Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan has launched an online survey for local residents to provide their views on the crisis facing NHS dentistry.
Results from the short questionnaire will inform a dossier of evidence the City MP is preparing to lobby the Health Secretary for change.
Figures from NHS Digital suggest only 39% of adults in Portsmouth had seen an NHS dentist in the 2 years up to 31 December 2020, compared to 45% across England.
Just 26% of Portsmouth children have seen an NHS dentist in the last 12 months, compared to a national figure of 30%, despite those appointments being free on the NHS.
In October 2020, Portsmouth resident Chris Savage numbered among the 7.6% of English households that have attempted a DIY tooth extraction, after struggling to access NHS treatment.
The survey is the latest in a string of actions the City MP has taken locally and in Parliament.
In January this year, Stephen warned Health Ministers of a crisis in NHS dentistry in a speech in the House of Commons and called on the government to drop damaging activity targets.
The same month saw him host a summit with local dentists, the Chair of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Dental Committee and Portsmouth Healthwatch, to hear directly from practitioners and patients.
In 2019, Stephen backed Labour’s pledge to offer free dental check-ups for all as part of a plan to focus on preventative healthcare.
Stephen Morgan MP said:
“I remain deeply concerned that Portsmouth has been disproportionately affected by the ongoing crisis in NHS dentistry.
“The pandemic created an inevitable backlog of care, but it also exposed the underlying weaknesses of the current system which risk causing generational damage to patient care.
“This survey is a chance for people to have their say, and I will take their concerns directly to the Health Secretary to lobby for the change we need.”
Click here to fill out the survey.
