NHS Sussex is expanding access to urgent dental care appointments following the success of a pilot programme at high-street dentists.
The initiative is designed to improve access to urgent dental services for people without a regular dentist and vulnerable patient groups.
The programme provides same-day urgent care appointments and offers courses of treatment to stabilise oral health, reducing the need for recurring visits.
This approach will help alleviate demand on A&E departments, GP practices, and pharmacies, where many people with dental problems previously sought help.
Patients in need of urgent dental care who do not have a regular dentist can access the service by calling the Sussex Dental Helpline.
The helpline team has the latest information on the availability of NHS dental services and any additional capacity being provided, including urgent care appointments and can book patients into appointment slots directly.
To increase the availability and ensure as many people can get help as possible, appointments are being added across Sussex.
The phased expansion has been targeted at the areas where patients face the most challenges accessing NHS dental services.
Nish Suchak, a dentist working in East Sussex and chair of the Local Dental Committee (LDC) for East Sussex and Brighton & Hove, said the initiative had come about as a result of the LDC, NHS Sussex and local dentists working together.
‘It is heartening to see how much can be achieved when all parties concerned work in collaboration for a useful service for the local population offering patients NHS dental treatment to get them out of pain and improve their oral health. I hope it can continue,’ he said.
