The lack of dentists in the Scarborough Borough continues to be a problem according to Scarborough and Whitby MP, Sir Robert Goodwill.
Healthwatch North Yorkshire said recently that a study had revealed only two dental practices across the whole of North Yorkshire were offering NHS treatment to new adult patients, and those surgeries had “significant restrictions on who is allowed to register”.
Mr Goodwill says says local dentistry is one of the things he gets the most correspondence about.
The concerns come just months after the government announced the first reforms to the NHS dental contract in 16 years, so that NHS dentists will be paid more for treating more complex cases, such as people who need three fillings or more.
Under the changes dental therapists will also be able to accept patients for NHS treatments, providing fillings, sealants, preventative care for adults and children, which will free up dentists’ time for urgent and complex cases.
However, Healthwatch North Yorkshire said it remains very concerned over the lack of access to and availability of NHS dentists, which it says “has severely affected the health and wellbeing of people across North Yorkshire, from Scarborough to Selby, to Craven to Harrogate”.
Sir Robert Goodwill says the lack of NHS dentists is one of local people's top concerns.
He says there is some progress being made but more needs to happen.
Healthwatch North Yorkshire has called for greater involvement of the public in NHS dentistry to ensure it meets the needs of the population.
Ashley Green, chief executive of the watchdog, said:
“We feel it is now time to act – and to use the upcoming changes to NHS and social care reforms, specifically the emergence of integrated care systems to fuel this change.
“We hear on a weekly basis the struggles of people and families unable to be seen by an NHS dentist, but also the desire by NHS dentists to see and treat their patients more effectively.”
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