Finding NHS dentists ‘like a needle in a haystack’

West Sussex residents have told of the misery that a shortage of NHS dentists is causing.

It comes after it was revealed that West Sussex had lost 38 NHS contract dentists in the past five years.

Asked if they had faced issues in finding dental care, readers of this newspaper and its sister titles told of their struggles in finding appointments, with one saying it has ‘ruined my life’.

Judi Harris said: “Three generations of my family have no dentist.

“My five-year-old granddaughter has never seen one and is unlikely to.

“A few years ago this would have been frowned upon.”

Sara Bazlington, who has lived in Worthing since 1990, said she had ‘never had an NHS dentist’ because she had been unable to find a surgery taking on patients.

Jenny Louise, from Chichester, said: “I can’t find a dentist anywhere. I’ve been in agony for two years and live off painkillers. It’s totally ruined my life.”

Amy Brierley described trying to find an NHS dentist in the Horsham as ‘like trying to find a needle in a haystack’.

And Abbey Davey said: “There’s been nowhere taking on NHS patients in Bognor for quite a while.

“[I] can’t get anywhere for my elderly parents.”

Have you struggled to find an NHS dentist? Get in touch – email west.sussex@ jpimedia.co.uk