SURVEY REVEALS DECLINE IN NHS DENTISTRY AS MORE PATIENTS RECEIVE PRIVATE TREATMENT

8.28.00pm GMT Tue 15th Jan 2008

A health survey delivered to homes across West Worcestershire confirms national figures showing NHS dental treatment in rapid decline as more and more patients are switched by dentists to private treatment.

Richard Burt's NHS Inquiry, which attracted nearly 4000 responses, revealed that 85% of people had been to see a local dentist within the last 12 months, yet only 69% said they were registered for NHS treatment.

Mr Burt, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for West Worcestershire said:

"Nearly one third of all local residents who responded to the survey said they were now paying privately for dental treatment.

"This is a staggering figure which underlines the crisis in NHS dentistry since the government's new dental contract was introduced in April last year.

"Figures published by the NHS Information Centre confirm that the proportion of dentist's earning made from the NHS is in sharp decline, with young dentists now earning just over a third of their income from the NHS.

"Dentists are really unhappy with the new dental contract and are switching more and more patients to private treatment. Nationally, up to 1000 dentists have already left the NHS and 266,000 fewer patients are receiving NHS treatment since the contract was introduced, according to the British Dental Association.

"Despite all the efforts to improve local NHS dental services, my survey underlines the problems facing residents seeking treatment in Worcestershire today. If the number of patients receiving NHS treatment continues to decline, increasing numbers will be faced with paying the highest dental fees in Europe and many simply will not be able to afford treatment.

Mr Burt has forwarded the findings of his NHS Inquiry to Worcestershire PCT as part of their public consultation to develop a new Strategy for Health for Worcestershire.