Reports Hub

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.

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

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