Dentistry shortages have been blamed following statistics showing a 46% increase in oral cancer deaths in England among 2011 and 2021, the Guardian reports.
Campaigners have said that there has been a big increase in deaths from mouth cancer over the last 10 years which is linked to a decrease in access to NHS dentists, patients, and oral health.
According to figures from the Oral Health Foundation (ORF), reported by the BBC, over 3,000 people in England have died from mouth cancer in 2021, compared with 2,075 in 2011 showing a 46% increase.
The ORF, Toothless in England (TIE), a group of campaigners that campaign for free dentistry, and the British Dental Association (BDA) stated that the rise in these deaths is a direct result of cuts to the NHS dentistry.
Figures released by the BDA earlier this year showed how in England the amount of NHS active dentists is at its lowest level in 10 years. It was discovered that 23,577 dentists carried out NHS work in the year 2022-23, down by more than 1,100 on the pre-pandemic level and the lowest since the years 2012-2013. Up to 90% of dentistry’s were also not accepting any new NHS patients.
Chief executive of the ORF, Nigel Carter, said:
“With access to NHS dentistry in tatters, we fear that many people with mouth cancer will not receive a timely diagnosis.”
TIE said via social media:
“We have repeatedly warned about mouth cancer deaths rising exponentially as access to NHS dentistry is further denied. Over 3,000 people died from the disease in 2021. Routine checkups save lives. We demand an NHS dentist for everyone!”
BDA tweeted:
“Oral cancer claims more lives than car accidents. But NHS dentistry is still waiting on a promised recovery plan.”
People have said to have been going private for their diagnoses as they are constantly being rejected by several NHS dentists, some have expressed how if they couldn’t afford to have gone private, they could be dead.
The Department of Health and Social Care has said that an increase in NHS dental care since the pandemic meant improvements in progress were being made.
It commented to the BBC:
“The NHS is also treating more people for cancer at an earlier stage than ever before and we have opened 127 community diagnostic centres to speed up checks, including for cancer.”
Comment
The statistics are certainly a concern for people and call upon the Government to do more and support NHS dentistries.
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