The BDA has backed a national newspaper’s campaign calling for action to be taken on the ‘intolerable’ state of NHS dentistry.
The Mirror‘s ‘Dentists for All’ campaign launched on 18 January and is centred around three demands:
- Everyone should have access to an NHS dentist
- Restore funding for dental services and recruit more NHS dentists
- Change the contracts.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has spoken out in favour of the initiative. BDA chair Eddie Crouch said: ‘A wealthy 21st century nation has seen its citizens pulling out their own teeth with pliers, while others queue from the crack of dawn to access care.
‘Underfunding and failed contracts, the crisis millions face is the result of political choices. The Mirror is showing leadership we desperately need to see from Westminster.’
Over 100,000 children admitted to hospital for tooth decay
Introducing its campaign, The Mirror cited recently released statistics from the Liberal Democrats. At least 104,133 children were admitted to hospital for tooth decay in the past five years according to this research. A further 113,872 adult admissions were also reported.
The figures were obtained through a freedom of information request but not all hospital trusts responded. This means that the true number of admissions is likely higher than reported.
The Liberal Democrats have also called for emergency action to combat the ‘intolerable’ situation.
Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey said: ‘Children are being forced to put up with the agony of tooth decay as this Conservative government has neglected dental services across the country. It is now clear that children aren’t getting the attention they deserve and are being left to suffer pain that disrupts their sleep, eating and education.
‘This Conservative government has made it almost impossible to see a GP, get a dental appointment, and has allowed A&E delays to become dangerously long. Everywhere you look, the Conservative party has brought our NHS to its knees.
‘Ending this intolerable situation must be one of the government’s top priorities as the crisis across the NHS continues to deepen.’
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