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Suffolk NHS dental campaign group vows to keep on going

Ian Barmer/BBC Protestors outside a building in Leiston, SuffolkIan Barmer/BBC
Members of Toothless In Suffolk held a protest in Leiston, a year ago to the day to when it lost its NHS dentist

A campaign group set up a year ago to reinstate NHS dentistry provision in a town said it would not give up.

Toothless In Suffolk said it was hoping to put "pressure" on a private dentist, due to open in Leiston, to take on NHS patients.

Steve Marsling, from the group, said it had met many times with NHS bosses to make them aware of the "crisis".

The NHS in the East said it remained "optimistic that a solution can be found".

Ian Barmer/BBC Steve Marsling,71 from Aldringham. Co-founder toothless in SuffolkIan Barmer/BBC
Steve Marsling, said the town used to have two dentists, but at the moment it does not have one

Mr Marsling, from Aldringham, said local people not having access to NHS services was causing "financial deprivation".

"The Toothless campaign team have met with the head of NHS Commissioning several times to press for immediate action and provide access to NHS dentistry, but the results of these discussions have yet to bear any fruit."

He said it "won't be giving up".

Ian Barmer/BBC Clive Chrichton, 67, from Lewiston, holding a placardIan Barmer/BBC
Clive Chrichton said he was unable to register with any NHS dentists in the area

Clive Chrichton, 67, a retiree from Leiston, said: "I can't get an NHS dentist and I can't afford to go private."

He said his broken tooth and filling that had fallen out have gone untreated.

All he can do is go on a waiting list and he was hopeful he would be seen soon by an NHS dentist, he added.

Ian Barmer/BBC Sigi and Darren Winters from Ipswich, SuffolkIan Barmer/BBC
Sigi and Darren Winters have just managed to secure a place with an NHS dentist but had to wait for two years, she said

Sigi Winters, 44, from Ipswich, said she had spent £3,000 on private dental care for her family, after waiting to see an NHS dentist for two years.

It put an "enormous pressure on us financially", she said.

A spokesman for the NHS in the East of England said: "We can understand the frustration of some communities where NHS dental services have closed whilst new services are being developed, and we remain fully committed to ensuring everyone can access high quality dental care.

"We are working closely with providers to improve access to services, including inviting NHS contract holders to take on additional activity.

"We remain optimistic that a solution can be found."

He added that "urgent and emergency dental care is available for those who need it".

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