PEOPLE suffering dental pain have been struggling for months trying to get an NHS dentists' appointment.

The watchdog Healthwatch Swindon has received several complaints over the problem.

It comes as Healthwatch England published a report revealing that NHS patients are facing waits up to two years.

One piece of feedback sent to Healthwatch by a Swindon resident says: “I feel like I am banging my head on a brick wall and going round the same roundabout.

“I physically cannot take any more pain or the teeth breaking. It’s affecting my whole life and has hit me at a very, very low time.”

Healthwatch development officer Jo Osorio said they can only 'create change by evidencing feedback with examples'.

He added: “All south west Healthwatches meet quarterly with the dental network to feedback what we are hearing to NHS England, which commission the NHS regular and special and community dental service.

“Collectively, the feedback illustrates the situation that patients are in and where change is needed.

"As shared in Healthwatch England's report, this is an issue that is not going away any time soon.”

Adver readers shared their experiences of seeing the dentist over the past year on social media.

Letitia Jane Knight said: “I called up a dentist to ask if they were taking on NHS patients, they told me that if I want to go private, they would book me an appointment but if not, they had nothing.”

Charlotte Wakefield: “You couldn’t get an appointment at some of the practices before the pandemic. I tried to book myself and my son in and they could only give me four months in advance and by the time that came around I had Covid and had to cancel. Worst luck in the world.”

Cliff Inward said: “I know mine are still trying to clear a backlog of emergency work from last year. I was fortunate enough to have some work done, but because it was causing pain.”

Emma Boyle said: “I couldn’t get an appointment last year for a hole in my tooth. Like most, they said wait until you’re in pain the call us.

“Pain got that bad that I only got seen and had work done because they classed it as an emergency. My hubby has needed a filling replacement which got cancelled numerous times

”

But some readers had a more positive experience.

Edwina Styles said: “I’ve had no problems with my NHS dentist.”