Dental Negligence Experts Call For Improved Access to Dentistry

A new study published by consumer watchdog Which? has revealed that some patients are struggling to find an NHS dentist in England.

The organisation discovered that even though NHS Choices is offering the public advice on which dental surgeries are accepting new patients, just 30 per cent are actually able to see new NHS patients.

Expert dental negligence experts at Irwin Mitchell have said delays in accessing NHS dentists can cause significant problems for some patients and called for systems to improve and ensure access to dental treatment when required.

Researchers at Which? found that surgeries able to accept NHS patients had waiting lists of at least two weeks for appointments, with others claiming new patients may not be seen for months. Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said information about availability is not up-to-date and patients are facing poor communication.

Hannah Wallace, a specialist dental negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said:

Expert Opinion

Access to NHS dentistry is particularly important for patients, as proactive care plays a critical role in effective dental treatment. <br/> <br/>“All too often NHS patients find themselves unable to access dental care quickly and we are frequently approached by members of the public who have experienced significant delays in being provided with appropriate treatment. <br/> <br/>“Further issues with access to NHS dentists will exacerbate this problem and leave many people suffering and unable to access the proactive treatment they require.