'Serious talks' held about NHS dental treatment in Luton

Concerns Luton residents are facing a two-tier system for dental services after lockdown were raised by borough council leader Hazel Simmons.

Labour Lewsey councillor Simmons asked for the local dental authorities to address the issue at a meeting of the borough council’s health and wellbeing board.

“For two months, until June 8th, dentistry was very limited,” according to general dental practitioner and chair of the local dental network, Tom Norfolk.

“That was on the advice of the chief dental officer and the head of NHS England,” he told the board.

“There are still sensitivities around infection and Covid-19 which are very acute in the dental setting because we work about a foot away from the mouth.”

Equipment used in treatment “can generate an aerosol that has a lot of water particles in it which are an ideal size for Covid-19 to stick to and float around the air,” he explained.

“We either have to change the air in the room rapidly several times by various machines or wait for an hour before we can go back in.

“Most practices can provide services to all patients now, but it’s slow.

“We’re prioritising patients by the most urgent, those in pain and with a special need, rather than individual check-ups, unless a practice has capacity.

“During the next few months, practices will deal with more patients.

“We’ve still kept our urgent dental centres, which can see patients in pain quickly, so we’ve bolstered what we had before Covid-19.”

Most of the UK’s 12,000 practices combine both NHS and private work to varying degrees.

Councillor Simmons, who chairs the board, said: “We had some experiences in Luton where surgeries haven’t treated NHS patients, but have seen private ones.

“That’s caused friction and some questions from ourselves as to why we would do that.

“It wasn’t based on need. It appeared to be based on money. I’m raising that as the reason for the board’s concern.”

Director of clinical transformation for Luton and Bedfordshire and local GP Dr Nina Pearson asked for further assurance that practices are operational.

“From a GP perspective we’ve had a number of patients presenting to us with dental problems who’ve been unable to access services,” she said.

Mr Norfolk replied: “Part of the problem has been the national team said practices can provide very low levels of activity and get paid their normal NHS funding.

“Some practices provided wonderful services and unfortunately a very small minority haven’t.

“NHS England has been working to identify those and say it’s time to step up.

“Serious talks have been held with those practice about what they’re doing and what level of service they’re providing to NHS patients.

“And it’s been made clear if they’re prioritising private instead of NHS patients, in an inappropriate manner, this will be investigated thoroughly.”

Councillor Simmons added: “I have concerns around this and we will continue to monitor it.

“For many the ability to pay private levels isn’t possible.”