The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh comment on the media article covering 'Mouth-cancer deaths fear over NHS dentist shortage
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The Dental Faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh are concerned at today’s news that oral cancers have risen significantly. Dental Faculty Dean Grant McIntyre commented:
This is very worrying news. It highlights the profound impact when people struggle to access periodic NHS dental check-ups, potentially leading to delayed diagnoses of head and neck cancer.
The reporting shows that many patients require extensive surgery that may have been preventable, and at times, tragically, untimely loss of life for others.
Lack of access to routine dental check-ups is a significant barrier to identifying a range of diseases and we would therefore call on government to urgently ensure funding is in place to make NHS dentistry accessible to all.
We would also like to remind the public to prioritise periodic check-ups whenever possible, and to book an appointment more urgently if they have any concerns. Additionally, it is important to note that advice and treatment for some conditions is also available at local pharmacies.
Ms Anna Paisley, the Chair of the Patient Safety Group at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh shares these concerns:
Such a lack of timely and appropriate access to NHS dental services has a clear impact on patient safety and increases the risk of poor outcomes of care.
ENDS
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