Almost half of all patients in Richmond struggled to access NHS dentistry services between October and November last year according to a new report published by Healthwatch Richmond today (Friday, February 12).

After speaking with some 300 residents in the borough, the report showed that 46 per cent of them "were unable to book a routine appointment" over the period.

Further, people who could pay privately were "16 times more likely" to get routine dental care than those who relied on the NHS between October and November.

The data pointed to a structural inequality in dental services in Richmond and across the UK where those with enough money to pay for private dental care could often get treatment more readily amid the heightened pressures on NHS services during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sir Robert Francis QC, Chair of Healthwatch England, said the organization's nationwide report showed the strain on NHS services brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also called on the government to "prioritise" oral health and commitment to improving access to NHS dentistry.

"Access to dental care is currently neither equal nor inclusive, leading to traumatic experiences for many people," he said.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the human impact of years of structural issues in NHS dentistry and is now pushing it to crisis point.

"We are hugely concerned that this will have detrimental effects to the nation’s health for years to come.

"Although we have to grapple with the pandemic, all efforts should be made to treat those in need of urgent care and provide more accurate and up-to-date information to help people find and access NHS dental care.

"In the longer term, the Department of Health and Social Care must prioritise the importance of oral health and commit to improving access to dentistry for everyone who needs it," Francis added.

Many groups are currently lobbying the government for increased funding and support for the NHS.

Earlier this year, a patient-led group Just Treatment launched a campaign calling on the government to provide a £33-billion funding boost for the NHS to help its services continue during the pandemic.

Unlike most NHS services that are free at the point of use, dentistry is one of the few area that requires payment from adult patients.

Mike Derry, Chief Officer for Healthwatch Richmond said dentistry care specifically should be free on the service (as it is for all under 18-year-olds on NHS dentistry).

"Most days we hear from someone who needs help getting dental care and whilst we’ve helped many people, the situation is becoming steadily worse," Derry said.

"Hearing about people’s suffering and struggles to get basic dental care is heartbreaking.

"Only this week I spoke to a parent who had done everything they could to get treatment for their young child.

"After enduring a painful 4 month wait with no end in sight they scraped together just over £1,000 to pay for private treatment that should be free on the NHS," he added.

"Despite this they may still face weeks of watching their child suffer before their appointment".

The Healthwatch report, which formed part of a much larger study conducted by Healthwatch England recently, meanwhile showed one in three people in Richmond were "unable to access even urgent or emergency care" on the NHS between October and November.

As for dentistry, a spokesperson for Healthwatch England said that "NHS dental care is facing an immediate crisis... as MPs and the British Dental Association call for the government to step up to the plate and sort out dentistry."

NHS England and the NHS South West CCG were contacted for comment.