Healthwatch York has published their latest report ‘NHS Dentistry – A Service in Decay?’ exposing a continuing decline in access to NHS dentistry in the city of York.
Volunteers and staff at Healthwatch York contacted all 39 practices in the city. At the time of the research in May and June 2021 they found that no practice in York was currently accepting new NHS adult patients. They call for urgent and rapid reform of NHS dentistry.
One respondent in the report said:
“I’ve been unable to find any dentist within 20 miles that are currently accepting new NHS patients (foregoing those that offer a 2 year+ waiting list). What would you recommend I do, as my dental health is in poor shape?”
Healthwatch York Manager, Siân Balsom said;
“NHS dentistry in the city has reached a new low and is in need of urgent and radical reform. If we fail to act soon we’ll be putting further pressure on an already severely stressed health system.”
The full report can be viewed on their website: https://www.healthwatchyork.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/NHS-Dentistry-A-Service-in-Decay-July-2021-2.pdf
Further Research – share you experiences!
Healthwatch York are now launching further research – a survey for people in York about their experiences of accessing NHS dentistry in the city.
Roger Newton, Research Officer at Healthwatch York explained;
“The most frequent reason people in York contact our information, advice and signposting service is to ask where they can find a dentist. We have long struggled to signpost them anywhere. Our research above gave us firm evidence as to the problem. We are now launching a survey to capture the voices of would-be NHS dental patients across the city, to show the impact of this gaping hole in local health and care provision. This work follows up on our 2018 report about people’s experiences, ‘Filled to Capacity: NHS Dentistry in York’.”
Paper copies are also available from York CVS reception at Priory Street Centre, or call the Healthwatch York team at 01904 621133 to request a paper copy by post.