Why isn't more being done to solve Suffolk's dentist crisis?

Members of the pressure group Toothless in Suffolk were at Wednesday's meeting of the health scrutiny committee at Suffolk County Council as the dental crisis was discussed.

They made their feelings clear at a protest before the meeting started.

In Suffolk there are currently 114 dentists operating – but only 37.6% of the population was able to access dental services in 2020/21. 

During that year there were 223,000 procedures in the county, down by 60% on the previous, pre-pandemic year.

Greg Brown, from the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, said there were probably 16 or 17 new "chairs" needed for dentists across the region.

But there had been problems with recruiting dentists – and it could take between 18 months and two years before things could improve.

The Leiston area has been particularly badly hit after it lost its last NHS dentist in April 2021.

Mr Brown said a dental contract for the area had been advertised and someone had been interested.

But unfortunately they could not find suitable premises and there were also issues with the long hours stipulated in the contract – so eventually it was withdrawn.

A new search has started, but that could still take several months to get anywhere.

Mark Jones, from Toothless in Suffolk and Toothless in England, asked questions at the meeting – but was disappointed by what he heard.

Protesters worried about dental services at Ipswich's Endeavour House. (Image: Charlotte Bond)

He said: "There was a lot of talk about the medium and long term – but people in Suffolk and around the country are suffering now.

"We don't want to hear about jam tomorrow – people need to know what is being done to get them treated now.

"There are thousands of people in Suffolk and many, many more across the country that simply have no dental treatment – and that is not good enough."