John Pugh. Stopping the Decay of NHS Dentistry

Following an expert report in the nation media this week showing that NHS dentistry is effectively dying https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67754983  a heartfelt plea to health chiefs not to give up on NHS Dentistry has been issued by Cllr.John Pugh (Liberal Democrat)

He argues that the resigned pessimism in many quarters surrounding NHS dentistry risks creating the sort of health inequalities we had back in the 1950s. 

“ I grew up in a community where in middle age unless you were well off, there was a good chance your teeth had gone and dentures were the norm. Now because of access difficulties we are seeing a growing gap between the dental health of families in different income brackets.This starts in childhood.  

Dental health in turn impacts on general health - particularly in later years.

”Astonishingly in the last Public Health Report by Sefton, specifically dealing with older patients, teeth do not feature as an issue. Old people though actually have more dental issues than most. 

Liverpool HealthWatch have produced a disturbing report on the state of dentistry across the city, https://healthwatchliverpool.co.uk/report/2022-11-18/state-nhs-dentistry-liverpool   , but we have not done the same detailed analysis in Sefton where the picture is as bleak.”

John Pugh believes although the situation is dire, giving up isn’t an option. "Dentistry isn’t all about cosmetics and the pursuit of the perfect smile, it’s a central public health issue and we must treat it as such.”