Don't Ask Us to Heal Dental Crisis, Doctors Warn Labour

Oct 16, 06:02 PM

Current Headlines: By Jenny Hope

DOCTORS have accused the Government of trying to drag them into the row over NHS dentistry.

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw yesterday urged patients needing dental care to 'demand their rights' from GPs.

But the British Medical Association said this advice was wrong as it would simply send them on a 'wild goose chase'.

A survey has revealed that almost half of dentists no longer accept Health Service patients, some of whom have resorted to pulling their own teeth with pliers.

Mr Bradshaw told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We do entirely accept that there are some people in some parts of the country who are having difficulty accessing NHS dentists.

'If people are in pain or need urgent treatment, they should go either to their GP or to their primary care trust and demand what is now their right.' He said the health trusts had a duty to provide urgent dental treatment.

Laurence Buckman, of the BMA, said however: 'Family doctors are not qualified as dentists and cannot pick up the pieces if there are not enough NHS dentists to go round.

'The Government is constantly talking about increased access to general practice.

'Sending patients on a wild goose chase isn't going to help an already overworked service.

'Patients should contact their primary care trust for help.' Dr Buckman is writing to Mr Bradshaw stating that GPs do not have the expertise to cover for den- tists and that the minister should 'correct' his statement.

The survey of more than 5,200 patients and 750 dentists found that three-quarters of those registered for private treatment had done so only because they could not access Health Service care.

Six per cent of those questioned by local patient forums said they undertook DIY treatment to avoid expensive dental bills.

Under an NHS contract introduced 18 months ago, charges for dental work fall into three bands with the maximum charge set at Pounds 194. Dentists say this encourages them to carry out cheaper, simple procedures. Over the past year, at least 500 dentists have stopped doing NHS work and 1.4million fewer patients received state care.

Mr Bradshaw said there had been no 'golden age' of access and that 56 per cent of patients have NHS care compared with an all- time high of 60 per cent.

He added: 'There are now 4,000 more (NHS dentists) than there were in 1997. We are moving in the right direction but there are still problems and I am very sorry about that.' Derek Watson, of the Dental Practitioners' Association, which represents high-street dentists, said many were reducing their NHS workloads.

Lester Ellman, of the British Dental 50% of patients cannot understand how dental charges work

Association, said: 'Dentists have to meet targets but the amount of activity involved in one filling is ranked the same as 15 fillings.

'We are working harder but it's more difficult to fulfill the NHS contract and we're financially penalised if we fail to do so.

'It has bred resentment among dentists who feel under enormous pressure and some are leaving the NHS as a result.' Andrew Lansley, the Tory health spokesman, said: 'If the Government believes that there has never been a golden age of dentistry and use this as an excuse for patients pulling out their own teeth because they can't get a dentist, then how can we hope that things will get better? 'NHS dentistry has reached this crisis point thanks to the Government's failure to negotiate a workable contract.' Comment - Page12 j.hope@dailymail.co.uk

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