Hampshire is UK’s biggest user of emergency dentists

Hampshire is UK’s biggest user of emergency dentists
6 July 2009 | | Uncategorised

SHOCKING new figures have revealed Hampshire’s Primary Care Trust treated more emergency dental patients than any other PCT in England last year.

The problem is caused by many patients not having access to an NHS dentist normally able to treat them in an emergency.

Across England, 22,000 people had to be admitted to hospital for emergency dental treatment in 2007/08.

These emergency admissions cost the NHS an estimated £13million.

In the area covered by Hampshire PCT, 609 people received emergency dental treatment in hospitals, costing the local NHS an estimated £362,720.

Meanwhile, latest NHS figures show that 58% of people in Hampshire have not been seen by an NHS dentist in the last two years – again, one of the highest percentages for a PCT area in England.

The figures have shocked North East Hampshire MP James Arbuthnot.

“Access to NHS dentistry, as with all NHS healthcare provision, should be readily available to all,” he said.

“It is appalling that such basic services seem to be under-provided in Hampshire and that as a consequence, many of my constituents will have to make do with using their local A&E departments, which are already under considerable pressure, or are forced to go private.”

Mr Arbuthnot, whose constituency covers Eversley, Fleet, Hartley Wintney, Hook and Odiham, said the Government must act to ensure that fair access to NHS dentistry is guaranteed across all parts of England and that all tax payers are getting the same deal.

“The people of North East Hampshire are currently being short-changed and the services which they rely upon and which serve them well are suffering. This has to change.”

Helen Clanchy, director of primary care for NHS Hampshire, said: “It is important that people without a regular dentist are able to get urgent care when they need it so we have a number of dentists who provide urgent services during the day and emergency services at weekends.

“These figures give numbers of admitted patients and very rarely would an emergency admission be related to a condition that a dentist would treat, they are more likely to be related to oral cancers, major trauma and acute and life threatening infection.”

Mrs Clanchy said 609 cases, for Hampshire’s population of about 1.25 million people, is comparable with PCTs nationally.

“People in Hampshire have been telling us that getting NHS dental care is difficult in some areas as over a number of years some dentists opted to reduce the NHS care they provide and instead offer treatment privately.

“We have been working hard to redress this and have a two-year £6million investment programme in place to increase dental access, focussing first on areas of poorest access and oral health.”

Mrs Clanchy said to achieve this NHS Hampshire has already opened new practices in Romsey, Waterlooville, Petersfield, and Alton and have practices due to open shortly in Hamble, Bordon, Basingstoke, Lymington and Cowplain.

“We are also working with current dental contractors to extend their service to take on new NHS patients and this has, for example, expanded services in Aldershot.

“The new practices have already enabled the Dental Helpline to pass almost 25,000 patients to practices for NHS appointments.

“Our continued programme includes further procurement of new practices in Farnborough and Fleet over the next year.”

People who want help finding a NHS dentist in their area or need emergency treatment and are not registered with a dentist can call the Dental Helpline on 0845 0508345.

Content courtesy of https://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2053522_hampshire_is_uks_biggest_user_of_emergency_dentists

More posts from our team


Previous Post:
Next Post:

Back to all news

Reviews2024
Five Star
Reviewed Marketing
5 gold stars
google review logofacebook review with 5 stars
"Excellent service from James at Dental Design, thank you very much for your prompt attention whenever I get in touch! Would definitely recommend to a friend" Alison Tarmey View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "Would definitely recommend to a friend"
5 gold stars
"As a dental practice manager I cannot recommend Dental Design highly enough. They are just brilliant at what they do. Lucy and her colleagues are just an email or a phone call away...." Emma Smith View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "I cannot recommend Dental Design highly enough"
5 gold stars
"Really great company to deal with. They always respond quickly and are truly reliable. I would 100% recommend, the staff are so friendly and helpful." Michelle Molloy View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "Really great company to deal with"
5 gold stars
"I got increased traffic and new patients applying to my surgery, once Dental Design upgraded my website. They are very professional, efficient & adaptive to new situations..." Joanna Gallop View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "Very professional, efficient & adaptive to new situations"
5 gold stars
"Lucy has been a star, responding to and acting upon our requests in a prompt, efficient and professional manner, as well as the rest of the Dental Design team..." Abhay Shah View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "I cannot recommend them highly enough"
5 gold stars
"...Since the website has been up and running Lucy Mander has been our point of contact. She has been invaluable and gone out of her way to help us, especially during COVID-19 lockdown... " Lucy Jones View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "Has been invaluable and gone out of her way to help us"
5 gold stars
"Thank you for all your help and support, and the provision of valuable learning aids for our patients and staff alike in these difficult times. We love the look of our practice website. Very professional!" Sandra Luck View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "We love the look of our practice website. Very professional!"
5 gold stars
"Dental Design stood out both in their knowledge of the industry and their professionalism and can-do attitude. All of their staff are exceptionally competent and knowledgeable..." Harvey Rook View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "Dental Design stood out both in their knowledge of the industry and their professionalism"
5 gold stars
"Having done extensive research into all the dental website companies, the team and package offered at dental design was unrivalled..." Neil Shah View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "The team and package offered at dental design was unrivalled"
5 gold stars
"The team at dental design (especially Rosie) are absolutely fantastic and are always on hand to help. They are professional, friendly and extremely efficient. Rosie always gets back..." KiKi Wilmot View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "absolutely fantastic and are always on hand to help"
5 gold stars
"Dental Design are fantastic to work with, our website is amazing and the support they provide is second to none. Our account manager Rosie L is a fabulous point..." Luke Lucas View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "Dental Design are fantastic to work with"
5 gold stars
"Having worked with the Dental Design team for the last six months, I've found them not only helpful, but friendly and approachable too. I bombard Marcus with regular..." Sophie Harper View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "always met with a swift and professional response"
5 gold stars
desk with branded documents