Calls to 999 for dental problems on the increase.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service have reported that over the last three years, the number of people in Bradford calling 999 and 111 for dental problems has increased. Calls to 999 went up from 126 calls in 2015, to 159 in 2016 and 160 in 2017. Calls to 111 went up from 28,316 in 2015, to 28,319 in 2016 and 28,989 in 2017.

The British Dental Association (BDA) suggested it was due to a lack of access to a dental professional, with a recent survey from Healthwatch Bradford and District showing 74% of people in Bradford couldn’t find a local dentist accepting NHS patients.

‘When families in Bradford need a dentist and log on to NHS Choices or call the NHS 111 service they have literally nowhere to go,’ said Mick Armstrong, chair of the British Dental Association. ‘These patients end up being passed from pillar to post, simply because health commissioners have failed to provide enough dentistry to go round. NHS websites and hotlines are all well and good, but access can only be guaranteed through real investment in NHS services in West Yorkshire.’