A woman with toothache in Suffolk rang the NHS for help with the nearest available emergency dentist - and was told to seek treatment in Wolverhampton, 190 miles away. Mother-of-two Adele Buckley was advised to make the 380-mile round trip because 50 other dentists nearer her home were all full-up. The 44-year-old from Southwold, who had a tooth abscess, was stunned.
She said: “I was in a state of disbelief because Wolverhampton is nearly 200 miles away. I just wanted to get it sorted, but it is a massive problem and the government needs to sort something out.”
Eventually she decided against making the trip and managed to find treatment nearer to home.
A spokeswoman for NHS Direct said the organisation would investigate the claim.
Wolverhampton’s Primary Care Trust said it was not uncommon for people to travel from all over the UK to use the city’s services.
Wolverhampton has drafted in professionals from all over the world to cope with demand. Dentists have been flown in from Spain, Poland and India to work around the region.
Lynne Allen, director of primary care at Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust, said anyone could receive treatment in the city regardless of where they were travelling from.
She said: “Under the national dental contract anyone can access dental advice in an emergency, regardless of where they live. A visitor to Wolverhampton could access emergency advice if required, in the same way that a Wolverhampton resident could access emergency advice if they were visiting another area of the country.
“Dental services are not residency-based and people can choose where they go.”
By Becky Sharpe
Popular stories:
Share this article:
What are these?