Members of Parliament suggest dentists must return to practice

Due to patients struggling to access care, Esther Mcvey, MP for Tatton outlined that dentists must return to practice and that dentists are mindful of the safety precautions that need to be taken to protect staff and patients.

Furthermore, due to the upsurge in DIY dentistry, more than one-hundred and fifty dentists have signed an open letter to Matt Hancock, Health Secretary, calling for surgeries to reopen.

Mcvey stated: “The Prime Minister has set out the roadmap for the next phase of our response to COVID-19. This includes setting out when he expects hairdressers, some shops and other facilities to be open, but there has been no mention of dentists. After speaking to dentists, they are concerned there are patients that are in pain who cannot get the appropriate level of care or access emergency provision. Dentists are highly skilled healthcare professionals and they are fully aware of the measures needed to protect themselves and their patients. They do this every day. They will know what additional measures they need to take or put in place to ensure both their safety and that of the patient. It is vital they are allowed back to work or at least given a timetable for when surgeries can reopen. Not everyone needing emergency treatment will be able to travel to one of the urgent care hubs. They may not meet the very strict criteria to access the treatment and, therefore, are having to go without treatment. I am also sure there will be people who may be in pain and are not seeking help, which stores up problems for the future. In addition to the emergencies, routine check-ups have not been happening for months. Dentists play a vital role in ensuring oral health and often spot problems early and all this work is building up.”