Millions can't access dental treatment

[Barry]

https://www.dentalhealth.org/paying-for-dental-treatment-in-the-united-kingdom">//https://www.dentalhealth.org/paying-for-dental-treatment-in-the-united-kingdom

It seems that in 1951 the Conservative government of Winston Churchill thought the costs of NHS dental treatment were too high for government to bear from taxation, and instead introduced charges for dental treatment.

I would like to see dental treatment free at the point of treatment, the same as the rest of the health service. While we are at it, perhaps we could have free eye checks and spectacles. It will all have to be paid for from taxation, mind, nothing is really free.

[Ciaphas]

'In November he had emergency treatment to have some teeth extracted.



The work was done by Dentaid, a charity which normally works in developing countries, but is increasingly being asked to help people in England.'



It is absolutly appalling that people in the UK are now needing to rely on charities to have their dentistry needs met.



In understand Labour have made a manifesto pledge to initially provide free checks followed by fully free care which will address some of the issues but what have the Conservatives been doing about the issue?



It appears the government have been ignoring concerns raised by the British Dental Association regarding recruitment and retention but that's not surprising.



https://bda.org/news-centre/press-releases/nhs-dentistry-facing-recruitment-crisis">https://bda.org/news-centre/press-relea ... ent-crisis">https://bda.org/news-centre/press-releases/nhs-dentistry-facing-recruitment-crisis

[papasmurf]

After the time the Tories have been in office this is a disgrace:-



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50467776">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50467776



More than 2 million adults in England are unable to see an NHS dentist, BBC analysis suggests.

They include an estimated 1.45 million who have tried and failed to get an NHS appointment in two years with the rest on waiting lists or put off by cost.

Another 2 million assume they cannot get care where they live, suggesting nearly one in 10 miss out overall.

Dental leaders said the findings - based on official NHS data - showed access was a problem in every region.