Latest news with #ToothlessInSuffolk
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Toothless in Suffolk warns dental access still a 'major crisis'
A group campaigning for improved dental provisions said there was still "a major crisis" after the NHS said it planned to increase access to in Suffolk and Toothless in England protested outside Endeavour House in Ipswich, the headquarters of Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), on Jones, from Felixstowe and co-founder of Toothless in Suffolk, warned there were still parts of the county without access to a dentist, leading people to carry out their own DIY Garratt, chief executive of the ICB, said it had identified five areas in Suffolk and north Essex where it would look to provide 250,000 appointments over the next year. "We're still in a major crisis across the country, across the county especially," Mr Jones, 61, explained."Parts of the county are underserved, they just cannot access NHS dentistry and we're here to remind the ICB they have a duty of care to the patients of Suffolk and that duty of care is not being delivered in any honest sense."They've sat on their hands, we've given them suggestions, we've given them an alternative way in which to deliver NHS dentistry, all of that has fallen on deaf ears."He warned the campaign would continue to be a "struggle" until there was an NHS dentist "for everyone". Lynn Marsling, 77, joined the campaign said she felt people were still suffering."Nothing's being done," she said. "They say they're listening, but we want to see action."Words are OK, but we want action and we want it now." Dr Garratt explained that five areas across Suffolk had been assessed as having a shortfall in the level of primary dental care commissioned. These included: Bury St Edmunds, SuffolkBrandon, SuffolkEye and North West SuffolkSaxmundham/Leiston and North East Suffolk Tendring, EssexHe added the ICB would be investing £7.6m a year, subject to a procurement being successful."That's a 10-year contract, so that's a £76m investment over 10 years," Dr Garratt said. Dr Garratt admitted there would be challenges, however."The real challenge is getting consistency across Suffolk and north-east Essex," he continued."There are certain communities now that have adequate provision and there are some where there's a lack of provisions."We're trying to get a more consistent picture."Dr Garratt said the ICB was "aligned" with Toothless in Suffolk and it welcomed its "push".He added there was now "sufficient" urgent dental provisions locally following the opening of the University of Suffolk Dental CIC in Ipswich and that there was "no need for DIY dentistry anymore". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Oral healthcare is dying - it's dead on its feet'
A campaigner who wants everyone to have access to an NHS dentist has said oral healthcare is "dying, it is almost finished, and it's dead on its feet". Mark Jones, from Felixstowe, is the co-founder of Toothless In Suffolk and Toothless In England - campaign groups calling for better dentistry services in the country. The government previously pledged to "reform the dental contract" but the British Dental Association (BDA) believes cuts to dental services will leave a £1.5bn hole in the budget. Mr Jones has demanded urgent change after a meeting he was due to have with care minister Stephen Kinnock was cancelled. The BBC understands alternative dates have been offered. Speaking on BBC Suffolk, he said: "We are bitterly disappointed the minister cancelled late yesterday evening but we are not going anywhere and we will carry on. "That door has been closed but I have asked my MP to lobby hard and take a fresh look at providing mobile clinics for rural and coastal areas. "[Residents who live in those areas] will not have a chance of seeing another dentist on their high street because they are gone for good." Mr Jones started his campaign group in 2021 following an announcement that the last remaining dentist in Leiston would shut. Since then, he has met residents who have taken dentistry into their own hands, including one Bury St Edmunds woman who told him she pulled out 11 of her teeth. "Within days of starting the campaign, we very quickly realised it was a problem across Suffolk, the East of England, and in fact the whole of the country," he said. He said: "We are suffering from a complete absence of NHS dentistry and oral healthcare is dying," he added, "it is almost finished, and it is dead on its feet. "We need focus and commitment rather than gestures." Mr Jones' concerns come after the BDA said the dental budget had remained static at around £3bn since 2010, despite charges increasing in all but two years since. The association said dentist leaders believed the total budget would now have been closer to £4.5bn had government contributions increased at the same rate. Matthew McGregor, chief executive at 38 Degrees, said: "This is further proof the Government needs a proper plan to fix NHS dentistry, and to stump up the investment to make it a reality. "It's time for urgent action from government ministers." A spokesperson for Mr Kinnock said the government was "taking action to fix the NHS dentistry crisis". "We've recently announced 700,000 urgent dentistry appointments, including 69,000 in the East of England," they said. Addressing the cancellation of his meeting with Mr Jones, the spokesperson added: "The minister is meeting a number of dental groups, but sometimes meetings need to be re-arranged due to government business changing. "This was one such meeting - and we were very clear about our commitment to finding a new date quickly." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. 'Dental patients are pulling out their own teeth' Dental campaign group takes message nationwide Six Scottish areas are 'dental deserts' British Dental Association Toothless in England Toothless in Suffolk
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'NHS dentistry is dead on its feet', says Felixstowe campaigner
A campaigner who wants everyone to have access to an NHS dentist has said oral healthcare is "dying, it is almost finished, and it's dead on its feet".Mark Jones, from Felixstowe, is the co-founder of Toothless In Suffolk and Toothless In England - campaign groups calling for better dentistry services in the government previously pledged to "reform the dental contract" but the British Dental Association (BDA) believes cuts to dental services will leave a £1.5bn hole in the Jones has demanded urgent change after a meeting he was due to have with care minister Stephen Kinnock was cancelled. The BBC understands alternative dates have been offered. Speaking on BBC Suffolk, he said: "We are bitterly disappointed the minister cancelled late yesterday evening but we are not going anywhere and we will carry on."That door has been closed but I have asked my MP to lobby hard and take a fresh look at providing mobile clinics for rural and coastal areas."[Residents who live in those areas] will not have a chance of seeing another dentist on their high street because they are gone for good." Mr Jones started his campaign group in 2021 following an announcement that the last remaining dentist in Leiston would then, he has met residents who have taken dentistry into their own hands, including one Bury St Edmunds woman who told him she pulled out 11 of her teeth."Within days of starting the campaign, we very quickly realised it was a problem across Suffolk, the East of England, and in fact the whole of the country," he said: "We are suffering from a complete absence of NHS dentistry and oral healthcare is dying," he added, "it is almost finished, and it is dead on its feet."We need focus and commitment rather than gestures." 'Government needs a proper plan' Mr Jones' concerns come after the BDA said the dental budget had remained static at around £3bn since 2010, despite charges increasing in all but two years association said dentist leaders believed the total budget would now have been closer to £4.5bn had government contributions increased at the same McGregor, chief executive at 38 Degrees, said: "This is further proof the Government needs a proper plan to fix NHS dentistry, and to stump up the investment to make it a reality."It's time for urgent action from government ministers." 'Taking action' A spokesperson for Mr Kinnock said the government was "taking action to fix the NHS dentistry crisis"."We've recently announced 700,000 urgent dentistry appointments, including 69,000 in the East of England," they said. Addressing the cancellation of his meeting with Mr Jones, the spokesperson added: "The minister is meeting a number of dental groups, but sometimes meetings need to be re-arranged due to government business changing. "This was one such meeting - and we were very clear about our commitment to finding a new date quickly." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
