Lack of NHS dental appointments widens health inequalities

 https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/news/2022-05-09/lack-nhs-dental-appointments-widens-health-inequalities News – 9 May 2022A new survey of public attitudes to NHS dentistry shows that half of the adults in England find dental charges unfair amid escalating living costs. We have warned decision-makers that NHS dentistry is in desperate need of reform.NHS dentisrtyWith living costs on the rise, our new findings show that health inequalities are widening as people in every part of the country struggle to pay for dental care. When people find it hard to access NHS dental care, they feel pressured to go private, which is not an option for many. And even NHS charges can be hard for some to afford. A representative poll of 2,026 adults based in England found nearly half (49%) of respondents felt NHS dental charges were unfair. What are people saying?The poll, which looked at people ’s experiences of NHS dentistry, including costs associated with dental care, found the following:41% of respondents said they found it difficult to book an NHS dental appointment, whilst one in five (20%) couldn ’t access all the treatments they needed.One in four (24%) respondents said they had to pay privately to get all the required treatment.One in six (17%) reported they felt pressured to pay privately when they booked their dental appointment. Similar numbers (17%) said their NHS dentist didn ’t explain the costs before starting treatment.More than one i...
Source: Dental Technology Blog - Category: Dentistry Source Type: news