Healthwatch Isle of Wight has submitted evidence to a parliamentary inquiry on NHS dentistry, highlighting the significant problems that many Island residents have in finding an NHS dentist and getting the treatment they desperately need.
The Government Health and Social Care Committee has launched an inquiry into dentistry following a survey that showed 90% of dental practices across the UK were not accepting new adult NHS patients. MPs will be looking at the evidence submitted, 36% of which was provided by local Healthwatch organisations, including the Isle of Wight.
Conservative MP Steve Brine was recently interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s PM news programme about the evidence he’s been reviewing as chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, for its upcoming dentistry evidence sessions.
He said:
“We’ve had hundreds of pieces of written evidence from trade bodies, professionals, charities, people working in the profession. But quite a lot of it has been from local Healthwatch and from patients themselves, telling some pretty painful stories of…DIY dentistry…home tooth extractions, people tying shoelaces to teeth…”
His comments are a credit to more than 30 local Healthwatch who’ve submitted evidence to the inquiry and the wider efforts of the whole Healthwatch network over the past few years in highlighting the dentistry crisis.
Joanna Smith, Healthwatch Isle of Wight Manager said:
“Lack of NHS dentistry on the Isle of Wight is compounded by the fact that we are surrounded by water. We do not have the luxury of travelling to a nearby city or county to access NHS dental care, without the additional cost and inconvenience of travelling by ferry which can be unreliable in poor weather and can add hours to traveling time. Lack of NHS dental services has widened health inequalities, with people on lower incomes often getting no service, while those who can afford to go private can get treatment without delay.
Article continues below this advertisement We have been contacted by pregnant women, cancer patients, people with mental health conditions and autistic people, all of whom have been unable to access any NHS dental care. This has affected their mental health and wellbeing, caused financial hardship and has increased pressure on urgent care services such as NHS 111, A&E and GP services.”
A report of the evidence they submitted can be found here.
Least the housing development in Ryde should help the dental crisis I hear that all the houses will be occupied by dentists.
I’m surprised. I’d have thought this would have been another easy headline grab for half a sausage, but now I see. It highlights deficiencies in his party and he probably pays for private healthcare anyway, so has no need of NHS dentists.
we need less people on the island, then there would be no dental access issues. Stop building houses for non islanders, stop bringing dinghy people in, stop permitting taxpayer funded benefit claimants moving here and stop handing out money to every sob story that turns up on the island.
Do stop spouting utter garbage. The vast majority coming here are retirees not “benefit claimants”.
really – have you walked around the towns lately –
I have. The number of geriatrics is huge.
Some basic facts for you:
Now, despite what you claim to have seen.
Now present your calcualtions.
smiffy always apologising and making excuses for the fact that non islanders are clogging up this island with their presence – haven’t you noticed that so many walking around the streets look like they have been dumped here by immigration from a hotel somewhere else, after turning up in a dinghy
Think that’s 2nd homes not so.much retirees these days. Empty houses all but the main summer holidays.
Seaview is a ghost town except for holiday season.
Has anyone out there encountered this.
The Isle of Wight Dentists will no longer do extractions !!!
You have to be referred to Ventnor.
This has now happened to two of my relatives.????
no – mine is fine with extractions
For an extraction one has to visit a dental surgeon rather than a dentist, and there is only one on the IoW as you say and he is in Ventnor, but is booked up 9 months in advance.
I recently had to go to the mainland for an extraction.
wrong paula – my dentist carries out extractions here on the island and not in ventnor.
Remember when you used to visit the dentist before the pandemic?
Remember that nice Polish or Romanian dentist you uses to see?
They went home during the pandemic and aren’t coming back because it’s easier to work in other EU countries and many have had their right to remain lapse.
Brexit bonus!!
nope – I have an english dentist.
Yep I remember once being butchered by a (possibly drunk) polish dentist, luckily been replaced by an English one that I can understand now at my local dentist, Brexit bonus as you say smiffy you wet wipe
Something that doesn’t seem to have been mentioned in the evidence that was submitted that surgeries are dropping off the NHS register so many people are suddenly finding that they no longer have an NHS dentist and zero chance of getting one. This is an important omission because, without it, the evidence suggests that it only relates to new arrivals on the island.
Actually happened to me. I was quietly dropped as an NHS patient because my actual dentist (Romanian) had left.
whereas I am with an english dentist and have no issues at all.
But on yesterday’s PMQs, rich rishi claimed we had 500 more dentists. It would appear that someone is lying
I don’t believe it.
“It would appear that someone is lying”… no sh!t Sherlock ….
NHS service in both Dental and GPs are bad on Island, but they are also poor on mainland. The cost of sensible food is such that kids are being fed too many sugary alternatives, or quick meals. Concerned parents need to look at the levels of sugar in items they are feeding their children, especially the fizzy drinks – even the sugar free ones the acid does the damage. If the Private charges weren’t so high it wouldn’t be so bad 1K for 3 fillings is disgusting perhaps the Government needs to review private dental charges and cap them – excuse the pub.
Erm – tap water is good – fizzy drinks bad – don’t give the kids fizzy drinks then – take responsibility for them – it isn’t hard
“Government needs to review private dental charges and cap them” … really ???
why would they do that ??
Tory ideology is for private companies to make as much proffit for their owners / shareholders as possible.
keep the poor masses poorer, that way they’re easier to control
Tories, greed and brexit that’s why there’s a crisis
Oh Stuart, surely not.
Shows how useful an MP is. Health watch are volunteers, and we are given the opportunity to inform them. In that case, he and his expenses are a complete waste. ( As if we didn’t know.) Everything could be achieved along those lines.