Slaithwaite woman’s three year wait for NHS dentist

Jul 1 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SHE’S needed emergency surgery on her teeth twice to stop excruciating pain.

But after three years on the NHS waiting list, Sharon Jenkinson is still without a dentist.

And Ms Jenkinson, 24, of Slaithwaite, isn’t alone.

According to new figures from the Department of Health, there were 176 dental emergencies in Kirklees in 2007/08 costing the NHS about £105,000.

Ms Jenkinson was forced to wait in agony overnight for emergency root canal surgery in February.

Two years ago, Ms Jenkinson again had to seek emergency root canal surgery for a similar problem.

And despite numerous complaints to the NHS, Sharon, who is on benefits and cannot afford private dental care, is still waiting.

She said: “I’m sick of it now. I went to a private dentist in between because I couldn’t leave it any longer.

“I rang the NHS helpline and they told me no one has been waiting three years. It’s a pretty poor show. How much pain do you have to be in to get seen?

“I couldn’t eat or sleep for three days. It got so bad I was crying on the floor and my mum had to phone an emergency dentist.”