AN ACUTE shortage of NHS dentists has left people across West Devon facing a 40-mile round trip for emergency dental treatment on the NHS.

One patient in Tavistock only discovered that his NHS dentist could no longer treat him when he was ‘in agony’ with a wisdom tooth that later had to be removed.

Turned away from the Tavistock Dental Centre, Ashley Eslick discovered only one other treatment option in town, privately in three months’ time.

He eventually found a dentist who could treat him on the NHS 14 miles away in Plymouth.

And figures from the British Dental Association reveal his experience is now typical, as dentists restrict the number of people they treat on the NHS.

The BDA reveals that patients in Tavistock currently face a 41.2-mile round trip (nearest dentist Newton Abbot), Okehampton patients must travel 38.6 miles (Holsworthy and back), patients in Chagford must travel to Ashburton (38.2-mile round trip), and people in North Tawton to Exeter (45.4-mile round trip).

A spokesperson for NHS England in the South West said: ‘The Tavistock area is one of our main concerns in Devon as it’s lost two NHS dental surgeries over the past year and the others are finding it very hard to recruit new dentists.

‘We’re doing what we can to make the most of local capacity and to support practices, so they can meet their NHS contracts.

‘What we’d urge people to do is use our helpline, as NHS places are coming up frequently for allocation to new patients.’

The spokesperson said priority for places at NHS dentists would be given to those who have waited longest.

‘Recruitment issues are not restricted to the Tavistock area – much of Devon and Cornwall is affected,’ they added.

For the full story, including Ashley Eslick sharing his uncomfortable experience, pick up this week’s edition of the Tavistock Times.