NHS officials have been alerted to the worsening dental crisis in County Durham, warning that continued restricted access to treatment could jeopardize the health and safety of residents.
During a debate at County Hall, alarming testimonies were shared by individuals unable to secure urgent dental care, with many experiencing long delays after contacting the NHS 111 service. Local health authorities have acknowledged that the issues in County Durham are part of a broader, national crisis in NHS dentistry, heavily influenced by the challenges of dentist recruitment and retention, as well as the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Call for Reform as Residents Struggle to Access Care
Councillor Cathy Hunt emphasized the urgent need for reform within the dental sector. She pointed out the stark contrast between the ease of accessing medical treatments for infections in other parts of the body and the difficulty faced by those with oral health issues. “If you have an infection in your body, you can visit a pharmacy or a GP, but when it comes to oral health, no one will assist you,” Hunt explained. “If people cannot access care through the pharmacy, GP, or dentist, we risk fatalities due to tooth decay and infections. It’s a dire situation.”
Sedgefield county councillor Chris Lines raised the alarm over what he called an “oral health time bomb” in the region, warning that people are ignoring early dental issues and self-medicating with painkillers. “This is a dangerous path to take,” he said, stressing the need for early intervention to prevent further complications.
Pandemic Aftershocks and Increasing Service Gaps
Eddy Adam, a councillor for Aycliffe West, reflected on the sharp decline in dental services since the onset of the pandemic. He recalled the difficulties his family faced when his wife, suffering from a dental abscess, was unable to find treatment. “During COVID, my dentist closed, and it was nearly impossible to find a new one in Aycliffe and the surrounding area,” Adam recounted. “My wife contacted NHS 111 and was told there was nothing they could do. She reached out to five different dentists, but none were willing to treat her. It took 72 hours for her to receive any care.”
Worsening Accessibility Due to NHS Contract Cancellations
As of November 2024, County Durham had 47 NHS General Dental Service contracts, commissioning a total of 705,348 Units of Dental Activity (UDAs) — a measure of the work performed during treatment. However, the situation is set to worsen as two dental practices, Burgess and Hyder branches in Bowburn and Spennymoor, will terminate their NHS contracts on January 31.
Compounding the issues, patients have been experiencing widespread deregistration by their practices without prior notice, only discovering this when attempting to make an appointment. Councillor Viv Anderson spoke to the growing frustration in her community, noting that many residents were deregistered during the pandemic due to non-attendance and are now struggling to find another provider. “My own dentist in Sedgefield went private, and luckily, they offer a monthly payment plan,” she said. “But for many, the situation is much more dire. Other dentists are turning them away.”
Widespread Shortages Across the Region
An NHS report corroborates the widespread nature of these challenges, citing that dental providers are increasingly giving notice on their NHS contracts due to their inability to meet local demand. Areas such as North Cumbria, North Northumberland, Darlington, parts of County Durham, and Sunderland are particularly affected.
To address the mounting crisis, two short-term Urgent Dental Access Centres are set to open in County Durham later this year. These new centers, following a pilot program in Darlington, will provide more reliable and accessible urgent dental care, offering a much-needed solution for patients in the region who struggle to access treatment.
The ongoing crisis in County Durham underscores the urgent need for systemic reform in NHS dentistry to ensure that residents can receive the care they need before the situation deteriorates further.
Related topics:
Brandi Glanville Opens Up About Health Struggles, Tooth Loss, and Ongoing Recovery
Auraglow Teeth Whitening Kit: A Game-Changer for At-Home Whitening
American Dental Care Launches Initiative to Cut Cosmetic Dental Costs by 30%
