How do prisoners have BETTER access to free NHS dentistry than millions of law-abiding patients?

Research has found that prisoners have better access to free NHS dentistry than millions of law-abiding patients.

Murderers, rapists and pedophiles are among those who can get same-day help – at taxpayer expense.

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, only around half (52 percent) of the British public are registered with an NHS dentist.

Meanwhile, 97 percent of people without a dentist who tried to get an NHS appointment in September were unable to do so.

But inspection reports show that prisons housing some of the country’s most notorious criminals, including Belmarsh, Pentonville and Frankland, are offering routine and urgent dental appointments within weeks, if not the same day.

Dentists say there are better incentives for them to do prison work, which is outsourced to private companies. This includes higher pay, better hours and fewer targets.

Research has found prisoners have better access to free NHS dentistry than millions of law-abiding patients (File image)

Murderers, rapists and pedophiles are among those who can get same-day help – at taxpayer expense (File Image)

Meanwhile, 97 percent of people without a dentist who tried to get an NHS appointment in September were unable to do so (File image)

Reports from the HM Inspectorate of Prisons show that routine waiting times at HMP Oakwood in Staffordshire lasted less than four weeks, but ‘patients in pain could see a dentist within one working day’.

At Buckley Hall prison in Rochdale, ‘there was virtually no waiting time to access assessment and support’, according to the Telegraph.

Meanwhile, prisoners at HMP Frankland in Co Durham – a maximum security prison housing Wayne Couzens, the former Metropolitan Police officer serving a life sentence for the kidnap, rape and murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard – can be seen. on ‘same day’ for urgent appointments or if they are in pain.

A prisoner from a category B prison told the newspaper: ‘After years of searching for an NHS dentist I have finally found a very good dentist in prison.’

The majority of people, including those who are retired, must pay at least £26.80 for a routine NHS check, if they can get one, while prisoners are exempt.

Inmates’ fillings, dentures and other procedures in the 122 prisons in England and Wales are also paid for by the taxpayer, with some treatments costing hundreds of pounds.

Murderers, rapists and pedophiles are among those who can get same-day help – at taxpayer expense (file image)

At HMP Frankland in Co Durham, prisoners can expect to be seen ‘same day’ for urgent appointments or if they are in pain

Dennis Reed, the director of the over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, said: ‘There may well be prisons getting NHS dentistry in areas that are NHS dental deserts – a little oasis in the middle of a whole area.

“These are completely distorted priorities, and that has to change.”

An official report on Belmarsh – one of the country’s highest security prisons – found that ‘waiting times were good, with most people receiving an initial assessment within seven days and receiving further treatment within a similar time frame’.

Urgent appointments were expedited when necessary and prisoners received six sessions a week of treatments including ‘dentures, root canal, scaling, fillings and oral health promotion’.

Convicts who served time there include Charles Bronson, once labeled Britain’s most dangerous man, Abu Hamza, the fundamentalist Islamic preacher, as well as Michael Adebolajo, who murdered soldier Lee Rigby, and the murderer of Tory MP David Amess, Ali Harbi Ali.

A government spokesperson said: ‘This government is committed to rebuilding NHS dentistry, but that will take time.

‘We will start with an additional 700,000 urgent dental appointments to help those who need it most, and reform the dental contract to encourage more dentists to offer NHS services to patients.’

An NHS spokesperson said: ‘As prison health commissioners, NHS England has a statutory duty to ensure that dental care is provided to patients in prison.

‘The NHS recognizes that there is a lot of work to do to improve everyday NHS dental care across the country and that is why we are working with the Government on measures to increase access, such as encouraging dentists to practice in deprived areas work. ‘