York’s dentistry crisis is set to intensify, after it emerged a surgery in the city is to stop treating patients on the NHS.
York Dental Practice at Clifton Moor has until now provided NHS and private care, but is to go fully private.
Staff have written to patients informing them of the change and outlining private plans at £14.95 or £23.75 a month.
A copy of the letter, seen by YorkMix, says:
It has become apparent that the significant change in the NHS is making it increasingly difficult to treat patients with the level of care they deserve and that the current system is very inflexible for both patients and dentistry as a profession, however, we very much want to continue providing the highest level of care to all our patients.
“Therefore, after much deliberation the decision has been made that the practice will be converting to a fully independent practice.”
The letter says its plan places increased emphasis on preventative dentistry. It also says staff are liaising with the NHS locally to try to find provision for children registered at the practice.
The announcement is the latest development in York’s long-running NHS dental crisis.
Last spring, no practices in the city were accepting new NHS patients, and survey respondents typically reported visiting the dentist less often, struggling to find a dentist in a convenient location, and struggling to find appointments when they wanted them.
Healthwatch York said the pandemic had made the situation worse, but said there had been problems in York for years and the service was now at crisis point. The organisation has called for:
- “Rapid and radical” reform of how dentistry is commissioned and provided, recognising the problems facing the public and the profession.
- Reform of commissioning to tackle access and affordability problems.
- Clearer information for people on where and how they can access services, and the costs.
- Use of dental practices to support people’s general health, linking oral health to other issues.
Resident pulled out own tooth
Last week, York Central MP Rachael Maskell raised the issues in a Westminster Hall debate on access to NHS dentistry, and repeated calls for a National Dental Service. She told of one local resident who had pulled out his own tooth, and another who had spent his burial savings on treatment.
She said: “Some of my constituents have found a dentist 40 miles or more away, and some say it is cheaper to travel abroad. Many have no dentist at all.
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“The cost of living crisis is bearing down on York because of housing costs, meaning that people simply cannot afford to go private, and nor do they want to.
“The principle of the NHS is so important to them, so they seek solace at A&E or with their GP in order to address the pain that they are experiencing, at a time when, as we all know, oral health inequality is growing sharply.”
In the same debate, Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake also called for reform, citing a 20-month delay in reopening a practice in Helmsley, and constituent cases including a woman whose daughter waited in vain for more than a week for a phone call back from the NHS about her toothache, only to be eventually told by the Yorkshire and Humber Dental Service that they could not help.