By Rapid decline in NHS dentists in Grimsby
Recent figures indicate a rapid decline in NHS dentists is occurring in Grimsby due to the flawed system England is currently using.
The news comes after it was revealed that many patients across the nation are having to wait for up to two years for simple check-ups due to the current system English dentists are on.
Numerous dentists have left their positions as they are unhappy with the units of dental activity (UDA) system that England continues to use.
The system measures a practice’s activity and tracks their progress, but if targets are missed, the contract holder and the practice are forced to pay money back.
According to the BBC, the system ‘does not incentivise preventative work’ and is one of the main reasons why so many dentists are leaving their jobs.
An NHS England spokesman claimed that they are now having to support NHS dentists by funding practices that are unable to reach their activity goals.
The British Dental Association (BDA) and the charity Healthwatch both expressed their desires for the NHS dental contract to be reformed.
Wales has already taken the step to move away from the system, but England is yet to follow.
This has resulted in 20 percent of East Yorkshire dentists calling it quits in the last five years, Greatest Hits Radio reported.
There are now less than 120 dentists in the whole region.
North East Lincolnshire alone has seen a decline in dentists by 19 percent.
In 2021, a total of almost 1,000 dentists from 2,500 roles across England and Wales left the NHS.
The General Dental Practice Committee chairman for the BDA, Shawn Charlwood, reportedly said: “Ministers have failed to grasp that we can’t have NHS dentistry without NHS dentists.”
NHS dentists are also facing pressure caused by the backlog which was brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
600 urgent dental centres have reportedly been set up across England as a result.
The lack of dentists is also affecting people of all ages.
In North East Lincolnshire, there is reportedly a high rate of children aged under five who are having their teeth extracted already.
Additionally, the elderly are also struggling with the lack of dental services in the local area.
Tracy Slattery, from the local Healthwatch group, told Greatest Hits Radio: “If you look at those that live in care homes that are not being able to access dental or oral health services of any description, that’s compounding their health and wellbeing across the board because they’re not going to be able to eat or drink correctly.”
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