Cornwall’s Dental Crisis: Report Highlights Urgent Need for Action

A recent report from Healthwatch Cornwall has cast a stark light on the state of NHS dental care in Cornwall, revealing a crisis that is increasingly affecting residents across the county. The independent research, spanning six months, involved 96 dental practices, over a thousand Cornwall residents, and collaboration with key stakeholders, including Access Dental, Smile Together, Kernow Health CIC, and Public Health at Cornwall Council. The findings, released on 1 November, paint a troubling picture.

Rising Dental Emergencies and Self-Treatment

The report uncovers severe issues within Cornwall’s NHS dentistry provision, with a critical shortage of accessible care leading to a surge in dental emergencies, hospital admissions, and instances of people resorting to dangerous self-treatment methods. Funding shortages, structural barriers, and the challenges of Cornwall’s geography are cited as exacerbating factors, with other healthcare services increasingly impacted.

Healthwatch Cornwall’s CEO, Debbie Gilbert, commented on the findings: “The results make grim reading and clearly indicate an urgent need to resolve a situation that affects everyone in Cornwall – particularly the most vulnerable.”

Limited Access and Long Waiting Lists

Only 6% of survey respondents reported knowing how to access NHS dental services, highlighting a widespread lack of awareness about available care. Additionally, the report noted that groups such as low-income residents, those with disabilities, and rural communities are particularly affected by the crisis. As of 2 September 2024, a staggering 34,250 people in Cornwall were on waiting lists for NHS dental care.

Healthwatch Cornwall’s Recommendations

In response to the findings, Healthwatch Cornwall has put forth a series of recommendations to address the crisis. These include:

• Introducing flexible NHS contracts to allow for more accessible services
• Improving the management of waiting lists
• Enhancing recruitment and retention of NHS dentists
• Implementing a mobile dental service to reach rural areas
• Collaborating more openly with stakeholders
• Promoting oral hygiene awareness across Cornwall

Debbie expressed optimism about the upcoming presentation of the report to the Integrated Care Board in December, stating, “There is a lot to do and I’m looking forward to presenting the report to the Integrated Care Board in December. Hopefully the board’s stated resolve to ‘serve our population better with access to NHS dentistry’ will lead to much-needed urgent improvements.”

Healthwatch Cornwall is part of the national Healthwatch network, operating independently to advocate for Cornish residents on crucial healthcare issues. The full report, The Dental Crisis in Cornwall: Your Questions Answered, can be accessed on the Healthwatch Cornwall website.