Medical negligence news
18/10/2007
Lack of NHS dental care could mean trouble
There are reports of an increasing number of people who, unable to receive dental treatment on the NHS and priced out of private dental care, are being forced to take drastic action such as pulling out their own teeth. Many are even ending up with serious personal injuries but can this lack of available healthcare be classed as medical negligence?
A survey of 5,200 patients carried out by the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health found that 20% had refused treatment as a result of high costs and that 6% had even treated themselves at some point because they were unable to get professional treatment.
Among the shocking revelations made were claims that people had removed their own teeth with pliers, used polyfilla to fill cavities and even used Super Glue to try and fix broken crowns.
Dentists received new contracts in April 2006 which were designed to lure more of them to work under the NHS but 84% of those surveyed revealed that their new conrtact has not succeeded in improving access to NHS services for patients.
It was announced on BBC Radio Two Only that just 56% of people in the UK currently have access to NHS dentists, meaning that the rest are left with two choices- go private and pay the hefty price or go it alone.
Chairwoman of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, Sharon Grant has commented, "It appears many are being forced to go private because they don't want to lose their current trusted and respected dentist or because they just can't find a local NHS dentist."
"Where NHS dental services are available, people are happy with the quality of treatment provided but many find the NHS fee system confusing and expensive, with some patients taking out loans to pay for treatment or more worryingly taking matters into their own hands."
Health Minister Ben Bradshaw has hinted that it will take the government "some time" to deal with the shortage of dentists and that those patients unable to find a dentist to treat them should pay a visit to their GP. He added, "Only 60% of us ever accessed an NHS dentist. The figure now is 56%.
"Last year we introduced for the first time a duty on local health services, on the primary care trusts, to provide urgent dental treatment to those who need it.
"If people need urgent treatment they should go either to their GP or their primary care trust and demand what is their right."
This all sounds very well but even getting an appointment with your GP for a health problem that he or she is accustomed to dealing with can be a bit of a task, so it remains to be seen how keen they are when dealing with emergency dental care.
It could soon come to a point where seeking the representation of personal injury solicitors in order to secure medical negligence compensation for unfulfilled dental work becomes a public issue, particularly if people aren't getting the treatment that they are entitled to as a result of a lack resources.
