The British Dental Association has urged TV presenter Richard Madeley to correct the record, following inaccurate comments concerning NHS dentistry it says he made on Good Morning Britain this morning.
The former This Morning and Granada Reports presenter told commentators Kevin Maguire and Andrew Pierce that “NHS dentists are not capable of doing extractions anymore.”
He added: “I was talking to a private dentist only last week, who was saying that so many people now have to go private because NHS dentists are not capable of doing extractions anymore. They are simply not trained up to that level.”
The GMB host also stated as “categorical fact” that instead of extracting rotten teeth, patients are being routinely handed antibiotics and referred to casualty. While complex cases may be referred to hospital, the BDA stresses that dentists are fully trained to undertake these procedures. Accident and Emergency services are not placed to provide this sort of treatment, and dentist leaders have warned such suggestions will only place further pressure on other NHS providers.
“NHS dentists are not capable of doing extractions anymore.”
Richard Madeley’s take on the crisis in NHS dentistry isn’t based on ‘categorical fact’ but pure fiction.
— pic.twitter.com/fXuWYBM3gf— BDA (@TheBDA) November 22, 2022
