Birmingham has welcomed the opening of three new NHS dental surgeries after recent research figures brought shame to the city’s health record.
The shortage of NHS dentists in the city had been criticised for being detrimental to the health of people in the city, especially the deprived areas. Figures released by the government showed that NHS dentists in Birmingham saw over sixty thousand fewer people over the eighteen months after new dental contracts were introduced in 2006. The launch of the new surgeries, led by Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust, came after a public consultation last year saw the dental service issue heavily discussed.
The first of the new surgeries opened last week and immediately saw over two hundred people rush to register. Bosses at the Primary Care Trust hope that the new clinic will give residents greater access to NHS services. A consultant for dental public health at the trust, Ros Hamburger, stated, ‘Traditionally residents in these areas have suffered from a lack of choice of a local dentist, which has contributed to a very low rate of registration. A recent patient consultation also showed that residents wanted additional surgeries and were keen to see opening hours extended into the evening and weekends, plus access to urgent care where appropriate.’
The Primary Care Trust spent three months in 2009 investigating the public’s access to dentists. The Care Quality Commission revealed dental care as one of the region’s worst problems.
