Hello everyone
My Dad has severe Copd. He's housebound and on 24hr oxygen now at number 8 . He's not been eating very much lately and he's said it's because he can't breathe long enough to eat. However he's since told me that it's his teeth. He's got about 3 left which are falling out but are giving him a great deal of pain.
Does anyone know if an NHS dentist could or would visit him and treat him at home? It must be an issue for other people in the same position as my Dad.
Thank you 😊
If you Google “community dental service” for your health trust, you should find the info you need. It’s an nhs service for vulnerable groups, eg those with special needs, or the housebound like your dad.
Here’s the nhs link which explains it nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentist...
Thank you so much for your reply. Youre fantastic 😘 I will contact them first thing tomorrow.
Thank you for that information, it is really helpful.
I am sure the link that eleanordigby has provided will be useful but you can search on mobile dentist in your area too. I hope you find one quickly there is nothing worse than toothache x
I will look into that. My Dad is willing to pay but unfortunately doesn't have the amount of funds required.
if you are still struggling to find a community dentist via Google then phone 111 and be very assertive with them to get a home visit from a dentist for your Dad.
Let us know how you get on.
Wishing you and your Dad well.
Hi Pauline. What a day. My head is sore now with banging it against the wall 🧱 😩 NHS England tried to help but the website for an emergency special care dental team was being updated so no phone number was available. He gave me a number for PALS patient liaison service but it was an answering machine. I rang 111 the lady was eventually helpful. She said what do you expect the dentist to do? Ermmmmm look at his teeth. She said...then what? I said I've no idea I'm not a dentist and incidentally neither are you!! She said...they have to carry specialised equipment and its heavy!! I said.....so you're telling me that my Dad is the only person in the country that's housebound and needs a dentist?? Anyway she drew her horns in and apologised and also referred him to a domiciliary dentist. She's given me the number but each time I ring it says they are receiving a high volume of calls and to try again later. They're open until 9pm so I'll keep on trying. Hopefully the person looking at the referral will take action. Thank you for you reply.
Oh dear, sorry to hear of your problems. I only knew about this service because my housebound neighbour was given the details by a “community liaison officer” connected to his surgery. Within days, two dentists visited and assessed him. They brought some equipment, but said it wasn’t enough for the treatment he’d need, so they arranged transport to a dental surgery & for someone to accompany him. Not sure what he had done. He told me he’d passed the info on to his sister, who lives in a different county, and she got a visit too. So the service definitely exists but they seem to keep it quiet!
I really don’t like the attitude of that 111 woman! If I were you I’d speak to his surgery. I know they say dental services are nothing to do with them, but someone there should be able to find out much easier than you can. It’s affecting your dad’s general health after all. Maybe the practice manager, or the gp’s secretary, will know what to do.
Hi titch71.
Oh my goodness me!! You poor thing and your poor Dad too. What a shocking situation for you both. It is shameful in this day and age - you will agree I am sure. The risks to your Dad's already poor health is surely the case.
I would advise that if the pain is unbearable or overwhelming then dial 999. this is what is advised in this website. You might have seen this website already?
nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentist...
The other thing you could try is to contact your MP ? that may have some effect? when you contact them you must the post code of the constituent or they dont respond.
members.parliament.uk/membe...
Good luck. !!
Pauline
Thank you again Pauline. It really can't be that unusual to have to have a dentist home visit a patient. It seems every service is stretched atm, I understand that but why make it so difficult to contact anyone about it. I even contacted his nurses but they can't help with it being a dental matter.
we shall plod on regardless and hope the referral works out xx
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