Over the past year, we’ve taken significant steps to support residents who are finding it increasingly difficult to access affordable dental care. Across England, more than 14 million adults cannot access NHS dental care, and some patients are now resorting to DIY dentistry out of sheer desperation. The situation continues to worsen.
Our team at Tower Hill Dental Practice recently appeared on ITV Good Morning Britain and ITV News, where they discussed the escalating national dentistry crisis. Coverage highlighted the alarming rise in DIY dentistry and the urgent need for government action to increase NHS dental contracts and funding – support that previous administrations have failed to deliver.
Rachel Dilley, co-owner and a dental nurse with more than 30 years of experience, told ITV reporters that NHS dentistry is at breaking point.
“Every day, patients ring us crying in pain because they can’t access a dentist. We’ve tried to get an NHS contract ourselves, but we couldn’t. The government needs to take a stand and invest in providing dental contracts to practices that want to deliver NHS care so people can be pain free and maintain a healthy smile.”
She added, “Next year, we aim to apply for an NHS flexible commissioning contract to better meet specific local health needs and priorities of local residents.”
Adding to concerns for the region, recent statistics revealed that more than double the national average of children under five in Calderdale are admitted to hospital for emergency dental care. Thanks to funding support from the Community Foundation for Calderdale (CFFC), Tower Hill Dental Practice is now able to offer free dental check-ups for children under five for the foreseeable future, helping to address this worrying local trend.
Patients wishing to book an appointment can do so via the ‘Book Now’ page at towerhilldentalpractice.co.uk For further information, please contact us on 01422 833331.