Rutland: Dental patients borrowing money for care, watchdog says

Healthwatch Rutland said most people surveyed were negative about their experiences of getting an appointment

A health watchdog is calling for urgent NHS dental care improvements after a poll revealed people in Rutland had struggled to get an appointment.

Healthwatch Rutland said 59% of the 123 people surveyed said they had been unable to see an NHS dentist over 12 months.

Patients told the watchdog emergency dental care was hard to access while private treatment was unaffordable.

NHS bosses said plans were in place to increase dentistry access in Rutland.

Patients reported having to borrow money and cut back on other necessities to pay for private care

Healthwatch Rutland released its findings last week.

One patient said: "I have tried several times, through 111, to get an emergency appointment for two very urgent and very painful dental issues for well over a year now.

"I can't afford to go private and just cannot get an appointment with the only NHS dentist here even for an emergency."

Another said: "None of the numerous dentists in Oakham or the surrounding areas are accepting NHS patients.

"This has resulted in me not being able to see a dentist as their costs are just not affordable for me, being on disability benefits.

"My children and grandchildren are also walking around with toothache and are not able to see a dentist either."

Patients also reported having to borrow money and cut back on other necessities to pay for private care.

'Better access needed'

Healthwatch Rutland manager Tracey Allan-Jones told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "Many people cannot afford private dentistry and are in pain and distress.

"We need a clear plan for improving local access to affordable routine and urgent dentalcare. We continue to press for improvements in NHS dentistry across Rutland."

A spokesperson for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLRICB) said: "We appreciate that better access to NHS dental services is needed for patients in Rutland, and we have plans in place to develop improvements."

The LLRICB said it would publish its oral health assessment for Rutland, as well as Leicester and Leicestershire, in March, which would inform plans to redistribute dental provision to areas with the greatest need in 2024-25.

It also said it expected to be granted more local powers to decide the amount of work practices can do.