Only one-third of Southwark adults have seen a dentist in past two years
The number of people who’ve seen an NHS dentist in Southwark has plummeted in recent years, new figures have revealed.
Only 34 per cent of adults in Southwark were able to secure an appointment with an NHS dentist in the past two years – down from 46.2 per cent who saw an NHS dentist in the two years up to 2018.
In a similarly desperate situation, only 38 per cent of children in Southwark have been able to see a dentist in the past 12 months, despite the NHS recommending under-18s see a dentist at least once a year.
This is down from 47 per cent of children who had seen an NHS dentist in the year to 2018.
It comes as polling has found that one in five adults unable to see a dentist have carried out DIY dentistry in a desperate attempt to relieve their pain.
The figures were compiled by the House of Commons Library, with the local Liberal Democrat Party at the forefront of calls for Government reform.
They are calling on the Government to set out an NHS winter rescue plan this week as soon as Parliament returns, to provide urgent help to those living in dental agony.
Cllr Victor Chamberlain, leader of the Southwark Liberal Democrat Group, said: “Far too many people in Southwark are struggling to see an NHS dentist and get the affordable dental healthcare they need.
“We’ve reached a breaking point in this crisis. NHS dentist appointments are becoming harder to get than ever and some practices are shutting their doors to NHS patients all together, but the government is missing in action.
“As the cost of living catastrophe continues to hit households hard, private dentistry is not a feasible alternative for the many people living in pain.
“It’s a national scandal that people in our community are desperately turning to dangerous DIY dentistry because our public health services have been run into the ground by this Conservative Government.”
British Dental Association chairman Eddie Crouch said: “DIY dentistry has no place in a wealthy, 21st century nation, but today millions in have no options, and some are taking matters into their own hands.
“These access problems are not inevitable. This horror show is the direct result of choices made in Westminster.
“We’ve heard promises of change, but any progress requires action on a decade of underfunding and failed contracts.
“Truss, Coffey and Kwarteng will determine whether we consign these scenes back to the Victorian era.”
Picture: Wikimedia Commons/Leeds City Council