Dental queries received by Healthwatch Cheshire
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Healthwatch Cheshire East and Healthwatch Cheshire West and Chester undertook an analysis of the feedback they received on dentists after noticing an increase in the number of enquiries on this topic. During the period April to December 2021 they received 221 enquiries.
People reported that inaccurate information was listed on the NHS England website about NHS dentists. People needing treatment had to ring round individual practices to ask about registering.
People reported a lack of NHS appointments or treatment available, long waits or having to register with a dentist outside of Cheshire. They also found that the Cheshire and Merseyside Emergency Dental Helpline was sometimes unable to provide assistance for people.
People are confused about dental registration, with some being removed due to them being deemed inactive.
They were also hearing about dental practices that had once provided NHS treatment going fully private.