NOT a single NHS dentist in Southend is taking on new patient registrations, a councillor has claimed as he branded the situation “totally unacceptable”. 

Aston Line, Westborough ward Labour councillor, claims Southend Council’s public health team “phoned every dental practice in Southend and made the shocking discovery that not one practice was open for registration taking on new NHS patients”.

He has now called for a strategy to be put in place, such as “increasing the ability of Dentaid” - a charity that provides dental care and oral health advice for people experiencing homelessness and other under-served communities.

At a meeting of Southend Council’s full council on Thursday, Mr Line asked the cabinet member for public health, James Moyies, if the council has any immediate and long-term plans to improve access to dental care. 

Following the meeting, he said: “Practices not being open for registration to take on new NHS patients in Southend is unacceptable because health services are there to provide for residents.

“As a result of this, some families are having to result to private treatment for their kids or take them out of the city, which they should not have to do.

“It’s really frustrating and saddening to see and because of this, there needs to be a strategy in place, such as increasing the ability of Dentaid through levels of funding and resourcing.”

In a report published by Healthwatch Southend, which is the independent voice of city residents who use NHS and social care services, earlier this year, many residents shared their frustration of not being able to get an appointment to see a dentist - claiming they consistently have to travel out of the borough. 

One said they are on waiting lists “as far as Barking” and their partner has been doing own temporary fillings this whole year with denttemp - an at home repair kit to fix loose tooth caps or fillings - from the chemist.

The House of Commons is also looking at the state of NHS dentistry, and Southend West MP Anna Firth has been vocal about it due to the provision being “of great concern”.

She said: “NHS dental provision in Southend and Leigh is of great concern to me, I raised this issue in Parliament in June and have continued to press Ministers on it.

“I have also requested an urgent meeting with Andrea Leadsom, Minister for Public Health, Start for Life and Primary Care, to discuss what can be done to increase provision in Southend.

“Previously, I met and discussed the issue with the Leader of the House, Penny Mordaunt, and following on from that I am planning to host a dental summit in Southend to bring together all stakeholders to ensure we can find a way forward.

“I will continue to press ministers to ensure people can access the dental care they need.

“Some families are being forced to seek private dental care, which during the cost-of-living crisis, places even more financial strain on those most vulnerable in our society.”

Shawn Charlwood, chair of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee said: “Southend has joined the growing list of communities where NHS dentistry has effectively ceased to be.

“Both patients and this profession deserve some honesty here. 

“The Government say NHS dentistry should be accessible for all who need it. The plain facts are we’re not seeing any evidence of the reforms or the resources to realise that ambition.”

A spokesman for Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System said: “Patients who require urgent NHS dental treatment should contact their regular dental practice or if they do not have one, NHS111 should be contacted.”

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