Campaign to get more dentists

A campaign has been launched to get more dentists in Lincolnshire.

Healthwatch Lincolnshire has launched the ‘An NHS Dentist 4 all – Improving Dental Services across Lincolnshire’ campaign as it says it’s seen no improvement in the situation in recent years.

Figures revealed by the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) show the top five ‘dental deserts’ include Lincolnshire.

Statistics from the ADG show Lincolnshire has just 38 dentists per 100,000 and less than 40 per cent of adults and children in the area have seen any dentist in the past 12 months.

Healthwatch Lincolnshire, which aims to the be the voice of patients in the county, says it’s acting on what local people have said.

The organisation’s Pam Royles said: “An NHS Dentist 4 all – Improving Dental Services across Lincolnshire’ is a campaign started by Healthwatch Lincolnshire in response to the number of poor experiences shared with us by residents of Lincolnshire of dental service.

“Since as far back as 2015, due to the number of poor experiences shared by residents, Healthwatch Lincolnshire has been raising concerns about the decline in access to NHS dentists in our county.

“During this time, Healthwatch has consistently worked closely to raise our concerns with NHS England Midlands Dental Commissioning Team, Media, Healthwatch England, as well as with local and regional dental networks.

“Whilst we all recognise many of the problems with dental services in Lincolnshire, such as commissioning, workforce and our counties geography, what Healthwatch does see is little or no improvements being actioned.

“For example, in our county we have seen increasing numbers of dental practices making the decision to ‘hand-back’ NHS contracts and move to being fully private.

“The campaign will run until March 31, 2023. During this time, we will be raising your concerns both locally and nationally so we need all the help we can get to bring to the attention of as many people as possible, the need for more NHS Dentists in Lincolnshire.”

You can have your say at https://www.healthwatchlincolnshire.co.uk/nhs-dentist-4-all-improving-dental-services-across-lincolnshire