Somerset family criticise inability to access NHS dentist

The family of a boy from Somerset born with a cleft palate have criticised the wait to see an NHS dentist.

Ezekiel, who also has a cleft lip, has had a series of operations to ensure his bones grow properly.

Despite needing regular check-ups, his father Simon said the last time Ezekiel, nine, was able to see a dentist was in April 2021.

NHS England said access to dental services have been historically challenging across the West.

It said demand exceeded capacity in the region but it could not comment further on any individual case.

A cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common birth defects and form when facial structures in unborn babies do not close correctly.

Simon has four other sons - two of which have autism.

He says it is essential for children with Ezekiel's condition to get regular dental check-ups because of the way their teeth come through at slightly different angles making it hard to clean each one.

He explained: "It's an absolute nightmare for us, but I think it's also quite a tragedy really that the dental side of the NHS care has been neglected this badly.

"We've got five sons, but it's even more impactful on them because of the disabilities they have as well."

Simon explained that services were fine until the end of 2021 when they received a letter to say their dentist was closing all its NHS services near where they live in Wellington.

It then became "doubly difficult because a week or so" later the town's other dentist closed its NHS services.

Ezekiel sees a specialist in Bristol for his birth defect and despite being put on a waiting list by them has yet to be offered a dental service he can access, Simon said.

In May, the BBC contacted all of Somerset's dentists to find that none were taking on NHS patients as adults.

Many said they were still taking NHS child patients - who are entitled to free dental care.

Despite this Ezekiel's father says he has not been able to find one, making it "impossible" to get the support he is entitled to.

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