NHS Dentistry Crisis: Patients Travel Miles for Care

Accessing National Health Service dental care has become a significant challenge for many, forcing residents to travel considerable distances for treatment. Durham County councillor Stephen Bowron highlighted this issue, stating that his constituents in Chilton are expected to travel to distant locations for emergency dental needs, a journey that is not feasible for everyone. He expressed frustration that a fully equipped local dentist's surgery in Chilton remains idle because the local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) has refused to provide the necessary funding.

The ICB acknowledged the difficulties in obtaining NHS dental services, noting that this is a national problem. They cited challenges in recruiting and training dentists, as well as financial pressures on practices delivering NHS services. The board mentioned that fundamental reforms to the dental contract are required to address these issues. As of April, new government measures are set to be implemented, focusing on urgent care and complex dental needs. The ICB also reported a recent £9.5 million investment to create 23 Urgent Dental Access Centres, aiming to provide over 100,000 urgent appointments annually, with new centres already operational in Durham City, Barnard Castle, and Peterlee.