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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Dentist shortage hits 'millions' | Dentist shortage hits 'millions' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Lack of access has prevented one in six people from seeing an NHS dentist for almost two years, a poll suggests. | Lack of access has prevented one in six people from seeing an NHS dentist for almost two years, a poll suggests. |
| Citizens Advice surveyed 1,800 people in England and Wales and found 300 blamed access, suggesting 7.4m adults could be affected in this way, it said. | |
| It questioned people about treatment since April 2006 when a new NHS contract was brought in. | It questioned people about treatment since April 2006 when a new NHS contract was brought in. |
| Health minister Ann Keen said the government was "working hard" to improve access to NHS dentistry. | Health minister Ann Keen said the government was "working hard" to improve access to NHS dentistry. |
| Private treatment | Private treatment |
| The survey found that a fifth of those questioned had had private dentristry treatment and just over a third had gone without since April 2006. | The survey found that a fifth of those questioned had had private dentristry treatment and just over a third had gone without since April 2006. |
| Those who had received private treatment or not had any treatment were then asked for their main reason for not seeing an NHS dentist, with lack of access coming out as the most common complaint. | Those who had received private treatment or not had any treatment were then asked for their main reason for not seeing an NHS dentist, with lack of access coming out as the most common complaint. |
| We are working hard to improve access to NHS dentists and the government remains fully committed to expanding services Ann Keen, health minister 'I've no idea when I'll get a dentist' | We are working hard to improve access to NHS dentists and the government remains fully committed to expanding services Ann Keen, health minister 'I've no idea when I'll get a dentist' |
| The charity's chief executive David Harker said "People on low incomes are particularly affected as private treatment is just not an option." | The charity's chief executive David Harker said "People on low incomes are particularly affected as private treatment is just not an option." |
| Citizen's Advice says that if the one in six figure was extrapolated to the whole of the population it could mean well over 7m patients were struggling to get treatment. | Citizen's Advice says that if the one in six figure was extrapolated to the whole of the population it could mean well over 7m patients were struggling to get treatment. |
| This is much higher than the official figure, which stands at 2m. | This is much higher than the official figure, which stands at 2m. |
| The survey showed huge regional variations throughout the country, with the south west and north west of England the worst hit. | The survey showed huge regional variations throughout the country, with the south west and north west of England the worst hit. |
| Lester Ellman, of the British Dental Association, said: "It is clear dentistry is not getting any better. | Lester Ellman, of the British Dental Association, said: "It is clear dentistry is not getting any better. |
| "The bottom line is that there are not enough dentists working in the NHS and that is because the government have failed to make it attractive enough." | "The bottom line is that there are not enough dentists working in the NHS and that is because the government have failed to make it attractive enough." |
| He denied it was a matter of money and said instead dentists wanted to spend more time with their patients. | He denied it was a matter of money and said instead dentists wanted to spend more time with their patients. |
| Health minister Ann Keen said: "We are working hard to improve access to NHS dentists and the government remains fully committed to expanding services. | Health minister Ann Keen said: "We are working hard to improve access to NHS dentists and the government remains fully committed to expanding services. |
| "It is now a national priority for the health service." | "It is now a national priority for the health service." |
| She added the dentistry budget was being increased by 11% from this year to help achieve this. | She added the dentistry budget was being increased by 11% from this year to help achieve this. |
| Long-running problem | Long-running problem |
| NHS dentistry has been a long-running problem for the government. | NHS dentistry has been a long-running problem for the government. |
| A new contract aimed at giving dentists more time with patients to get away from the so-called "drill and fill" culture was introduced as part of a reform of NHS dentistry in 2006. | A new contract aimed at giving dentists more time with patients to get away from the so-called "drill and fill" culture was introduced as part of a reform of NHS dentistry in 2006. |
| It was hoped the move would stem the loss of NHS dentists to the private sector. | It was hoped the move would stem the loss of NHS dentists to the private sector. |
| But despite getting paid the same for seeing less patients, 1,000 of the 21,000 NHS dentists in England refused to sign it, believing it was not as radical as they were led to believe it would be. | But despite getting paid the same for seeing less patients, 1,000 of the 21,000 NHS dentists in England refused to sign it, believing it was not as radical as they were led to believe it would be. |
| New dentists have been gradually recruited to the health service, but figures are no higher than they were before the new contract. | New dentists have been gradually recruited to the health service, but figures are no higher than they were before the new contract. |
| Are you finding it difficult to get dental treatment on the NHS? Have you given up and gone private? Are you a dentist working privately or in the NHS? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you finding it difficult to get dental treatment on the NHS? Have you given up and gone private? Are you a dentist working privately or in the NHS? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Name | Name |