25,000 missing out on dental care

And thousands more across the district are without a dentist as radical service changes take affect this month.

Health chiefs in the Bradford City Teaching Primary Care Trust area have produced a hard-hitting report laying bare massive shortfalls in NHS dentistry and calling for extra Government cash to plug the gap.

The report to the City tPCT board highlights: l75,000 of the area's estimated 150,000 residents are registered with a dentist but 25,000 would like to be registered but cannot find an NHS dentist.

lThe City area has the second lowest number of residents registered with an NHS dentist in West Yorkshire, at just 49.4 per cent.

lIn Airedale the figure is 50.4 per cent, in North Bradford it is 52.3 per cent and 52.6 per cent in Bradford South & West.

Even allowing for those willing and able to pay for private dental care, particularly in wealthier areas of the district, the figures show that tens of thousands of people across the Bradford district have been unable to register with an NHS dentist.

The T&A reported in February warnings from dentist Mark Edwards, treasurer of Bradford's Local Dental Committee to Bradford Council's Health Improvement Committee that the district desperately needed another 30 dentists to cope with the large numbers wanting to access NHS treatment.

A pilot waiting list scheme set up by Bradford City tPCT to monitor need has been inundated with calls.

Currently 630 people in the City tPCT area, which includes Manningham, Little Horton, Lidget Green, Undercliffe, and Daisy Hill, are still on the list, a further 250 people have been helped to find an NHS dentist since January.

If the district's four primary care trusts - City, Airedale, Bradford South and West and North Bradford - become one organisation later this year it is hoped to set up a similar district-wide registration scheme. This will means the number of people actively looking for an NHS dentist across the district can be monitored for the first time.

Health chiefs have launched a bid to lobby for extra Government cash to provide up to 15,500 more NHS places in inner city Bradford to tackle the chronic shortage.

Local dentists have told City tPCT bosses they are willing and able to treat 15,500 extra patients - if cash is made available.

However, a bid for £440,000 growth' money from the tPCTs Local Development Plan has had to be put on ice until a decision is made on the future configuration of the primary care trusts in the district.

Health bosses have been warned that if the money is not forthcoming, the tPCT will be unable to meet Department of Health targets and risks having its dental budget cut in future years.

They fear this will lead to further deterioration in dental services and increase health inequalities across the Bradford district.

In the report to the board, Catherine Thatcher, head of primary care for Bradford City, said the area had the second lowest percentage of patients registered with an NHS dentist in West Yorkshire, coupled with a lower than average ability to pay for private treatment.

She said patients in Bradford City also had worse than average oral health and if the bid for cash was not approved dental access will continue to be poor for the deprived patients of Bradford and may deteriorate further.

A spokesman for Bradford City Teaching Primary Care Trust (tPCT) said: "Improving access to dentistry is a key priority for Bradford City tPCT and this is supported by some local dentists who want to expand their NHS practices, but not all of them can start taking on more patients until the summer.

"We need to secure investment to fund these extra places and a bid for £440,000 growth money is being considered.

"At present, due to the review of primary care trusts, all such bids are being prioritised before any decisions are made.

"In the short-term we are working with some dentists to jointly manage waiting lists for those people who are actively trying to find an NHS practice for non-urgent treatment.

"We hope to develop this system further in the future so that people can call the PCTs direct and help them find an NHS dentist with available places, or join a waiting list for one.

"It remains the case that anyone who is not under the regular care of a dentist but needs emergency care should contact NHS Direct."

The spokesman added that Bradford City tPCT didn't lose any NHS dentists when new contracts were signed in April.

Other areas, such as Airedale lost four dental practices, equating to 2,000 patients losing their NHS care. Bradford South and West PCT lost one NHS practice and North Bradford did not lose any NHS dentists.

Last month (MARCH 2), the T&A told how 45-year-old Diane Hunter got a friend to pull out her tooth with a pair of pliers after failing for two years to find an NHS dentist to treat her.

e-mail: claire.lomax@bradford.newsquest.co.uk