Ukrainians in Britain shocked by dentist shortage, research shows
Ukrainians who have moved to Britain have highlighted the lack of dentists as one of the most surprising aspects of British life, according to a report on the experiences of people granted humanitarian visas.
Access to medical care is free for Ukrainians on the NHS, but researchers from the University of Birmingham heard strikingly outspoken stories about the difficulty of getting dental treatment.
In fact, the provision of dental services under the NHS was compared negatively with that in Ukraine, which was a popular destination for dental care tourists before the war thanks to low rates and good availability.
A woman in her 30s, Boyka, told investigators: “We don’t have a dentist. It’s crazy. It’s impossible for us! In Ukraine the dental industry is huge, you know, everywhere, and because it’s everywhere, all you have to do is go and it costs like £10, £8, and you can clean it, whiten it like (a) Hollywood -smile!
“If you have a few more problems, £2,000 will get you brand new teeth, from scratch! Here we came: ‘Can we?’ ‘No, no, no, we’re full.’”
Some British families who have taken in Ukrainian refugees have noted that their guests arrange dental appointments during their home visits.
A BBC questionnaire Last year it emerged that 90% of dental practices in Britain were turning away new adult patients. Government data shows that the unmet need for NHS dentistry in England has reached a record high, with 12 million people, or one in four of the adult population, going without it.
As appointments become increasingly difficult to find, a member of the public spoken to by Healthwatch England, a committee of the Care Quality Commission, was quoted in its report: report on the state of health and social care Last year he said: “As adults we can use pliers to pull our own teeth, but I believe this should not be something our children should have to endure.”
The Nuffield Trust, which has claimed that the NHS-funded dental service in England is in near permanent decline, has published analysis showing that funding for dental services in 2021-2022 was £3.1 billion, a fall of more than £ 525 million. in real terms since 2014-2015.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins has said she recognizes there is “more to do” to ensure access to NHS dental practices.
The University of Birmingham’s report, Humanitarian Visas in a Hostile Environment, was based on interviews with 43 Hong Kongers and Ukrainians, and is said to provide the first comparative analysis based on the testimonies of those who entered Britain via the new set of legal routes from the government.
The British government has issued 184,700 British National (Overseas) Route visas to Hong Kongers since the Chinese government launched a crackdown on pro-democracy campaigners.
A total of 188,200 Ukrainians have moved to Britain under visa schemes introduced since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Hong Kongers in Britain must pay healthcare fees in advance based on the length of their visa, while services are free for Ukrainians.
The researchers wrote: “Nevertheless, people’s reported experiences were remarkably similar and were characterized by poor service standards, especially in terms of speed, and difficulty finding a dentist.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Access to dentistry is improving – last year 1.7 million more adults and around 800,000 more children saw an NHS dentist – and we have also announced plans to increase the number of dental training places by 40 % to increase.
“We invest £3 billion every year in NHS dentistry and we also take preventative measures such as expanding water fluoridation programs to reduce the number of children with tooth decay.”