I know this has been spoken about before but now I now find myself in the position of a person in excruciating dental pain and not being able to get help says Claire Kelly of Friends of Southport.

Background - I was de-registered during covid, hadn’t been seen for 2 years. I still took my children but didn’t see myself as a priority unfortunately. The dentist agreed and I now have 3 children at the dentist, but nowhere for myself which seems ludicrous in itself.

Since I have no dentist, when nerve pain seared through my jaw and stopped me from drinking and eating this morning, I naively assumed I would surely get help as an emergency.

This morning I have telephoned the emergency dental line which is a recorded message saying “ We don’t have any appointments available”.

I then called 6 private dental practices who also cannot fit me in, despite being in severe pain.

Next I called 111 and after a long assessment I’m told I can try again tomorrow morning to get seen. I explain I’m unable to sleep or do anything, and they recommended I go to the chemist.

Surely in 2022 this isn’t an acceptable service?

I have a friend with morphine and now seriously considering taking it!

Interested to hear everyone else’s thoughts…

Claire Kelly of Friends of Southport

You can join this discussion HERE

Originally Posted by editor

I know this has been spoken about before but now I now find myself in the position of a person in excruciating dental pain and not being able to get help says Claire Kelly of Friends of Southport.

Background - I was de-registered during covid, hadn’t been seen for 2 years. I still took my children but didn’t see myself as a priority unfortunately. The dentist agreed and I now have 3 children at the dentist, but nowhere for myself which seems ludicrous in itself.

Since I have no dentist, when nerve pain seared through my jaw and stopped me from drinking and eating this morning, I naively assumed I would surely get help as an emergency.

This morning I have telephoned the emergency dental line which is a recorded message saying “ We don’t have any appointments available”.

I then called 6 private dental practices who also cannot fit me in, despite being in severe pain.

Next I called 111 and after a long assessment I’m told I can try again tomorrow morning to get seen. I explain I’m unable to sleep or do anything, and they recommended I go to the chemist.

Surely in 2022 this isn’t an acceptable service?

I have a friend with morphine and now seriously considering taking it!

Interested to hear everyone else’s thoughts…

Claire Kelly of Friends of Southport

You can join this discussion HERE

Contact Emer Dental. In most situations you can get a same day appointment - but you have to go to Manchester for it. A guy I knew was in great pain and desperate, he phoned and was given an appointment. He went to a clinic just outside Manchester and arrived early for his appointment but was seen immediately - lovely people. Because he needed specialist treatment, they were unable to do anything for his teeth, but they gave him antibiotics and painkillers - then arranged for another dental clinic to see him after the course of the antibiotics. He was then sent to Blackpool for treatment and was seen to very efficiently by a great dentist. All done on NHS.

The reasons why this is happening are the same reasons why GPs in Formby and elsewhere have been able to reduce face-to-face appointments by 90% (a guess only given no figures available) and so reduce their workload whilst presumably not losing any salary.

#1 - the 'Clinical Commissioning Group' and whichever grinning idiot is fronting it at the moment allow it (just as they allow if not encourage the subsitution of cheaper meds for prescriptions)

#2 - residents are fragmented - they are generally unaware of how widespread the problems are so assume that maybe it is just 'their bad luck'

#3 - apart from a small number of sites such as this who are willing to publish critical/investigative material most of our media - including the tattered remains of the newspaper industry - are more interested in the latest Wagatha Christie development, believing in their patronising way that this is all that 'ornery people' want. Researching and publishing stories on a deteriorating NHS takes too much time and money in their eyes.
I despair at people like Sean Brady who spends hours reporting on every possible aspect of Formby life (whilst promoting himself) yet studiously avoids dealing with any important topic affecting residents. See no evil, Hear no evil methinks.

#4 - our local MPs and Councillors (with the exception of Independents such as FRAG in Formby) avoid investigating these issues as it would take too much effort - far better to send round leaflets at Election Time saying that they 'support the NHS'. That only takes 1 minute of typing as false as it is.

#5 - and finally - all of us are to blame for letting the above get away with it. The rights we have now were achieved by people fighting and in some cases dying to get them - they weren't handed to us on a plate and they can be taken away just as easily.

Incidentally if there are any Labour voters who still believe that Starmer is going to be the saviour, worth reading this.

https://www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2...b-global-en-GB

Probably only allowed to see the light of day as Labour HQ are lining up Blair tribute act 'Wes Streeting' for Starmer's replacement.