The British Dental Association (BDA) has demanded a correction from Richard Madeley over comments he made on today's Good Morning Britain.
The veteran broadcaster fronted Tuesday's edition of the ITV news programme alongside Susanna Reid. The two were joined by Andrew Pierce and Kevin Maguire to discuss the major news stories of the day.
Richard criticised NHS dentists during the discussion as he claimed patients were being forced to go private to receive certain treatments. He said: "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.
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"They are simply not trained up to that level." The 66-year-old also stated it was a "categorical fact” that instead of extracting rotten teeth, patients are being handed antibiotics and referred to casualty. The chair of the BDA has hit back at the claims as he assured patients NHS dentists are fully trained to undertake these procedures - and only complex cases can sometimes be referred to hospital.
Eddie Crouch added: "Richard Madeley has offered a grotesque misrepresentation of a crisis facing millions of patients. His categorical facts are pure fiction.
"Dentists have the training, what’s really missing is the political will at Westminster to save this service. NHS dentistry is at a tipping point and requires fair funding and real reform. It can do without the musings of armchair pundits.”
BDA figures showed over 40m NHS dental appointments have been lost since lockdown. However, the BDA explained the access crisis is down to the "discredited NHS contract dentists in England work to."
A statement added: "It puts government targets ahead of patient care, and caps spending to cover barely half the population. Minor 'tweaks' to the contract announced before summer recess, do nothing to improve access, or halt the exodus of dentists from the NHS and had no additional funding attached.
"The Autumn Statement failed to ‘inflation-proof’ existing funds, and risks leaving a nearly £0.5b hole in the service’s already inadequate budget."
BDA figures revealed the number of NHS dentists has fallen to levels not seen since 2017 and recent BBC research revealed that nine in ten practices in England were unable to see new adult NHS patients.
The ECHO has contacted Good Morning Britain for comment
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