Low paid fear a visit to the dentist

Dear Sir,

The British Dental Association says that there is a, "huge fall" in people on low incomes visiting the dentist in England. This is because they fear that they will be fined, wrongly, when they claim for treatment.

Those claiming free treatment include the elderly, those on benefits, people with learning difficulties and people suffering from dementia, cancer and multiple disabilities.

The British Dental Association says the system of fines from an automated system, usually of £ 100, is creating a "hostile environment" for the vulnerable.

Dentists have warned that simple errors in filling in a form, such as a simple mistake of ticking the wrong box, can lead to fines being issued - and they say that these are making people afraid to seek dental care, even though they are exempt from charges.

Dentists' leaders say they have, "grave concerns that patients are being put off seeking treatment by the Government's aggressive approach to fines."

The British Dentist Association says that this is driving a downturn in visits to the dentist by low income people, falling by 23% over four years. This represents two million fewer treatments in 2017-18 compared with 2013-14.

The number of fines increased more than tenfold over four years - from almost 34,000 to 365,000. The British Dental Association says that Freedom of Information requests show that about 90% of fines are overturned when challenged.

The consequences for the weakest and poorest in our Society being too fearful, on account of the fines that may be levied, to see their dentist on a regular basis are very serious.

Not seeing your dentist on a regular basis can lead to losing your teeth, painful toothaches, gum disease and other health problems such as heart disease because plaque that occurs in the gums can eventually spread to other areas of the body. There are also links between gum and dental problems with other serious diseases, including diabetes, dementia, respiratory problems and certain types of cancer.

Here is yet another shocking example of this Government's hostile and callous attitude to the poorest and the weakest in our Society and every member of the Government and every Conservative Member of Parliament who have voted in support of such cruel policies, whereby the poor and sick are unjustly punished in this manner, should hang their heads in utter shame.

Yours faithfully,

Robert Douglas,

2 Hollycroft,

Congleton CW12 4SH