Experiences of Dentistry in East Sussex

During late 2021, Healthwatch East Sussex undertook a public survey of East Sussex residents experiences of dental services in East Sussex since March 2020, as well as a Mystery Shopping exercise to explore which practices in the county were accepting NHS patients at that time.

Our survey focused on people’s satisfaction with different aspects of dental services (e.g. waiting times, advice, treatment, referrals and costs) before and during the pandemic, including their experiences of registration with dentists; access to NHS and private services; whether dental needs were met (including access to emergency support); awareness of dental costs and exemptions; and information on changes to dental services.

These reports provides a brief summary of the key themes identified in the responses to the survey and the Mystery Shopping exercise.

Each month we feedback on the themes and issues people have contacted us about.

We share this information with you and with Health and Care providers to help develop and improve services.

The monthly I&S Service report provides an overview of the enquiries received, which includes information on the number of enquiries received, as well as the method of contact, main themes, and location of enquiries.

Each month we feedback on the themes and issues people have contacted us about.

We share this information with you and with Health and Care providers to help develop and improve services.

The monthly I&S Service report provides an overview of the enquiries received, which includes information on the number of enquiries received, as well as the method of contact, main themes, and location of enquiries.

Each month we feedback on the themes and issues people have contacted us about.

We share this information with you and with Health and Care providers to help develop and improve services.

The monthly I&S Service report provides an overview of the enquiries received, which includes information on the number of enquiries received, as well as the method of contact, main themes, and location of enquiries.

Each month we feedback on the themes and issues people have contacted us about.

We share this information with you and with health and care providers to help develop and improve the services.

Our monthly report provides an overview of the enquiries that we have received via our Information & Signposting service, which includes information on the number of enquiries received, as well as the method of contact, main themes, and location of enquiries.

Each month we feedback on the themes and issues people have contacted us about.

We share this information with you and with Health and Care providers to help develop and improve services.

Our monthly report provides an overview of the enquiries that we have received via our Information & Signposting service, which includes information on the number of enquiries received, as well as the method of contact, main themes, and location of enquiries.

Over the last two years, dentistry has consistently been in the top three reasons people in East Sussex leave feedback or make an enquiry with Healthwatch East Sussex.

We have looked back on what people have told us in the 24 Feedback Centre reviews and 214 enquiries to our Information & Signposting service on dentistry received between November 2020 and November 2022, as well as our 2021 dentistry survey and drawn out the key themes and issues in a summary report.

Patient Views of High Weald Dentists and East Sussex Emergency Dental Services

Healthwatch East Sussex launched an extensive survey in early May 2020 on Covid-19 and its impact on the wellbeing of residents in the county.

Early findings showed a significant number of respondents reporting difficulties in both finding information about dental care options and accessing urgent care during the lockdown restrictions.

These trends were supported by anecdotal and media accounts of individuals resorting to DIY dentistry