One in Four UK Patients Delaying Dental Care Due to Rising Costs
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - One in four people in the UK are delaying or going without NHS dental treatment because of its rising cost, the British Dental Association warned.
As NHS charges in England today rise by 8.5 percent, the BDA said it was concerned that patients are not seeking the help they need because they cannot afford it.
A poll by YouGov of 1,723 adults in England found 23 percent report delaying or going without NHS dental treatment due to the cost, The Daily Mail reported.
The price hike will see band 1 treatment such as a check-up increase from £23.80 to £25.80, while a band 2, such as a filling, will increase from £65.20 to £70.70.
A band 3, such as dentures, will increase from £282.80 to £306.80. Some 38 percent of people polled said dentistry should be fully funded by the Government through general taxation, effectively free at the point of delivery.
It is currently funded by a mix of government contributions from tax and patient charges.
The BDA said that while some adult patients are exempt from charges, many on modest incomes still have to pay, including recipients of low-income benefits such as Universal Credit.
The BDA is urging the Government to halt any further planned increase in charges next year.
