Assessing dental care in Enfield

Key findings

What are the issues?

• The vast majority of enquirers had been unsuccessful in finding NHS treatment locally, for themselves or family members, in some cases after making many enquiries (over 20 in one instance) and over several days.
• We are told that publicly available information, such as on the NHS website has been inadequate, and that content on local practice websites is often out-of-date or inaccurate. Support and advice services including NHS 111 have not been able to help.
• Those without NHS cover include new patients not yet in the system, and a large number who have been de-registered by their practice and now obliged to pay.

Who is most affected?

• We have received numerous enquiries from local people on benefits and parents on low income seeking treatment for their children.
• Other groups with particular difficulties or concerns include older people, those with dementia, the physical or learning disabled, pregnant women and new mums.