Access to NHS dentistry a call for a radical rethink
Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire have been hearing YOUR voice on issues surrounding dentistry around Leicester & Leicestershire. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve heard from patients up and down Leicester & Leicestershire who are unable to find care for themselves and their children, leaving them in pain and taking matters into their own hands.
New data indicates the dental crisis shows no signs of slowing, with four in five people (80%) struggling to access timely care during the last COVID-19 lockdown.
Access to NHS dental care continues to be a problem for people across the East Midlands, with Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire recording a rise in calls and complaints about dentistry over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our latest report on Dentistry (Coming soon) Highlights the issues patients are facing.
Chair Harsha Kotecha spoke to BBC East Midlands today about some of our findings from the report.
Elizabeth Learoyd, Managing Director of ECS said: “Everyone should be able to get the care and advice they need to keep their teeth healthy. However, lack of access to NHS dentistry has exploded as an issue for people over the last year or so. We’ve heard from patients up and down the county and city who are unable to find care, parents unable to register their children with an NHS dentist, leaving them in pain and taking matters into their own hands – which is not acceptable”
Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire are part of a network of ECS Healthwatch’s independent organisations set up to champion the views of patients and social care users in, Leicester, and Leicestershire, with the goal of making services better and improving health and wellbeing. We want to hear about your views, needs, and experiences to help get the best possible health and care across these areas. To share your feedback on health and social care services in these areas, contact Healthwatch through their Feedback centre: https://healthwatchll.com/services/
Working with Healthwatch England, along with all Healthwatchs we continue to update what YOU are saying in the local area and YOUR experiences. If you want an update on our new reports and how you can get involved sign up to our Network.