ANDOVER’S MP, alongside health chiefs, have vowed to sort out the lack of access to NHS dentistry in the town.

Recruitment challenges have been blamed for a lack of NHS dentists in Andover and the surrounding area, with residents being left or forced to go private to get their teeth looked at.

Andover MP’s Kit Malthouse and Minister for Primary Care and Public Health, Neil O’Brien, recently met with representatives from the Integrated Care Board (ICB), which arranges for the provision of health services, to discuss the issue.

The ICB said that the main challenge it faces in Andover is the recruitment of new NHS dentists, with both geographical and financial factors contributing to the situation.

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Mr Malthouse said: “This was an important and productive meeting in which the minister agreed with me that the immediate concern was the lack of access for new patients to NHS dental care in Andover, exacerbated by the town’s growing population and coupled with the long-term impact due to the absence of early years and childhood dentistry.

“I raised the possibility of extending the mobile bus dentistry service, proposed by the ICB, to cover schools and asked about the return of the school dental nurse.

“The ICB explained that they are working closely alongside Public Health teams regarding prevention and early intervention measures and the minister referred to similar discussions at a national level promoting children’s oral health.”

The NHS website states of the eight practices in the Andover area, including Whitchurch and Tidworth, three are only taking NHS patients referred by another dentist and five are not taking on patients. 

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Andover retiree Evelyn Griffin, 72, told the Advertiser: “I had to go private because I couldn’t get an appointment with the NHS. And my daughter has a three-year-old little girl, who had an appointment with a dentist last week. But it was cancelled for no reason. She’s just a three-year-old girl. It was a regular check-up thankfully, but it was shocking to hear the practice saying she doesn’t have a place there anymore.”

While retired pharmacy worker Mikki Hinton, 60, and from Goodworth Clatford, said: “I was with an NHS dental practice in Andover, but just last month, they called me up and said I have been moved from NHS to private because the practice became private.

“I was not removed from the practice or anything, but I was shocked because they told me I had to pay private price for any future appointments.”

Mr Wainewright, from Wallop, said that after he came out of the Army he has struggled to get an NHS place at any dental practice. 

The 47-year-old added: “When I was in the service, I had dental services there, but never knew this would be the case after my retirement.

“It’s a nightmare finding an NHS place. My wife is still in the Army, so she still gets the appointments there, but I have no choice but to go for private services. It’s madness.”

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Another meeting will be organised, including representatives from Andover practices, to fully understand what support they require to boost delivery and meet demand in the constituency.

Mr Malthouse added: “I look forward to the further joint meeting with Andover’s practices, the ICB have agreed to arrange it, and I will keep you informed of developments. We will sort out the lack of access to NHS dentistry in Andover.”

ICB chief executive officer Maggie MacIsaac said: “Local people are sharing their experiences with us around difficulties accessing dentists in Andover, and across Hampshire and Isle of Wight. 

“With oversight for NHS dentistry having now transferred to Integrated Care Boards, we are putting in place local solutions to tackle national challenges around recruitment and complex contractual arrangements. This includes new incentives for dental practices to take on NHS patients. 

“We were pleased to join the meeting with the minister and Kit Malthouse MP to discuss dentistry in Andover. The meeting was hugely helpful and we look forward to continuing to work together, with local dentists, on innovative solutions to improve NHS dental services for the people of Andover.”