Dental crisis: Fewer than 4 in 10 patients in Worcestershire have been seen by an NHS dentist in past two years
The number of people who’ve seen an NHS dentist in Worcestershire has plummeted in recent years, shocking new figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats have revealed. Only 36.6% of adults in Worcestershire, were able to secure an appointment with an NHS dentist in the past two years. This is down from 48.2% who saw an NHS dentist in the two years up to 2018. In a similarly desperate situation, only 48.2% of children in Worcestershire have been able to see a dentist in the last 12 months, despite the NHS recommending under-18s see a dentist at least once a year. This is down from 58.3% of children who had seen an NHS dentist in the year to 2018. The stark figures were compiled by the House of Commons Library following a request by the Liberal Democrats. It comes as distressing polling has found that one in five (21%) adults unable to see a dentist have carried out DIY dentistry in a desperate attempt to relieve their pain.
