HEALTH
Dentists failing to hit their targets as gaps in NHS care grow
Fears that budgets could be raided to plug holes in other areas of health service
Dentists are struggling with a backlog that buil up during the pandemic
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Dentists are carrying out 20 per cent less work for the NHS than they are contracted to do, according to an analysis of health service data.
The figures come amid widespread concern that a lack of access to dental treatment is causing serious problems, including children being taken to hospital with tooth decay and missed cases of oral cancer. There are also fears that dental budgets will be raided further this year to balance shortfalls in the NHS books driven by issues including strikes and inflation.
NHS data analysed by the Labour Party showed that between April and September last year, dentists in England provided the equivalent of 2.6 million fewer fillings — or 7.8 million fewer check-ups — than they should have.
The NHS
