By Andy Ford
Unite EC member Mark Jones has set up a successful campaign on NHS dentistry. Toothless in England is trying to address a huge but under-reported problem – the lack of access to NHS dentistry, which for many means no access to dentistry whatsoever. This year, Mark was elected from the Energy and Utilities sector to the Unite NEC.
People in rural areas AND deprived urban areas – and that’s a lot of people – are increasingly finding they cannot get an NHS dentist. A government survey Experiences of NHS healthcare services in England – Office for National Statistics, reported that 97% of new patients who wanted an NHS dentist were unable to find one.
There are whole counties now with no NHS dentistry. People are driving 50 or even 100 miles to see an NHS dentist, or else are putting up with deteriorating teeth, agonising pain, or ongoing infections. Despite all this, it is another problem Was Streeting kicked down the road, while grandstanding for tabloid headlines. (See Abolition of NHS England: beyond stupid in Left-Horizons, here).
Disgracefully, the market in cosmetic dentistry, for the rich and aspirational, is booming. Private Equity are buying up dentists to create chains of dentists to extract profits from patients.
Dentistry was left out of the NHS in 1948, except for hospital treatment. Instead, a convoluted system of contract work was set up, but due to underfunding this system is now completely broken. As Toothless in England point out, the government response has been repeated inquiries and reports, but no action. Sound familiar?
The campaign calls for “radical reform and proper funding”. Socialists would argue for a salaried national dentistry service, integrated into the NHS, with treatment is on the basis of clinical need, not ability to pay.
Toothless in England calls for an NHS dentist for everyone, reforms to the NHS dental contract, funding to cover dental needs that are currently unfunded by government, NHS dentistry free at the point of use, no more privatisation and check-ups, hygienists and prevention recognised as core to NHS dentistry.
Toothless in England – on Facebook, search for ‘englandsteeth’ or
contact email@toothlessinengland.org
[Andy Ford was recently elected from the health section to the NEC of Unite. His website can be found here]
