The National Audit Office (NAO) has issued a warning that the government’s “dental recovery plan” is failing to address the deepening crisis in access to NHS dental care. Patient groups have raised concerns over the serious public health implications of people being unable to receive necessary treatment for decayed teeth.
The plan, which aimed to provide an extra 1.5 million treatments in England this year, is facing significant challenges. The promised new fleet of mobile dental vans has not materialized, and efforts to attract dentists to work in areas of acute shortage have been largely unsuccessful.
Even if the plan were to deliver on its promises, the NHS would still be offering 2.6 million fewer treatments this year compared to pre-pandemic levels. The report also highlights a decrease in the number of adults in England seeing a dentist over the past two years.
Patient advocates have expressed outrage over the state of NHS dentistry, with concerns about the growing number of “dental deserts” where care is inaccessible. The Patients Association has called the situation a serious public health concern, with people resorting to “DIY dentistry” due to lack of access to NHS-funded care.
Labour ministers are working on their own plan to address the access crisis, which will include initiatives such as supervised tooth-brushing for young children. The government has committed to rebuilding dentistry but acknowledges that it will take time to implement effective measures to improve access to NHS dental care.
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