Thousands miss out on NHS dentist treament in Hampshire
Thousands of people's teeth are rotting because they have not signed up to an NHS dentist, latest figures reveal.
Last year 1,162 patients in our area needed emergency dental treatment in hospital – costing the NHS locally an estimated 692,078.
Portsmouth has the sixth highest rate in the country out of 152 primary care trusts for emergency dental treatment rates.
And a staggering 43 per cent of people in the city – 113,611 – have been unable to see an NHS dentist in the last two years.
While this is below the national average of 55 per cent, critics say the government is not doing enough to tackle the problem.
Many blame the new system where dentists get a set fee for treatments, whereas beforehand they could bill the NHS for as much work as they liked.
Flick Drummond, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Portsmouth South, who uncovered the figures, said: 'Forty-three per cent of people across Portsmouth have been unable to see an NHS dentist.
'And 172 people have been forced to hospital last year for emergency dental care – straining our over-stretched A&E departments still further.
'This is not surprising as the figures from those who responded to my survey show that more than 50 per cent of the people in Portsmouth South are not registered with an NHS dentist.'
Latest figures show more than a million patients across Portsmouth, Hampshire and West Sussex have not seen an NHS dentist in the last two years.
Hampshire was above average at 540,649 patients – 58 per cent of the population.
Debbie Tarrant, from the Portsmouth City Teaching PCT, said they were looking to increase the supply of dental treatments at existing practices in the area, but wouldn't yet reveal where.
'The trust has just commissioned new capacity from six existing practices, and this starts shortly on July 1,' she said. 'The trust is in the process of buying additional dental services to come into operation next year.'
She added that some of the emergency hospital treatment for dental work could be down to accident and injuries.
PAYMENT BANDS
Under the government's NHS dental contract introduced in 2006 there are three bands of payment, instead of the hundreds that existed before April.
Basic work on the NHS such as check-ups, X-rays, or a scale and polish is now classed as Band 1 and costs 16.50 – the fee is the same whether a patient has just one of these procedures or all of them, and also covers some urgent work.
Band 2 treatments cost 45.60 and cover fillings and extractions, regardless of whether it is one filling or 20. This price also includes any Band 1 treatments.
Band 3 treatments cost 198 and include complicated procedures such as bridgework, crowns and dentures. Band 1 and 2 treatments are also included in this maximum price.
Patients needing emergency dental care should ring the Dental Helpline on 0845 050 8345.
The emergency dental clinic at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham is open from 8.30am to 9.30pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 9.30pm at weekends.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 24 May 2012
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