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Dentist examining a patient s teeth. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto
- Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Children s access to the dentist plummeted in Norfolk last year, with patients under 18 accessing 100,000 fewer treatments than the year before, according to new figures.
Every authority in Norfolk was significantly hit by the pandemic, with the head of the British Dental Association warning it could take years to repair the damage.
Across Norfolk 57,093 courses of treatment were given to patients under 18, 63pc fewer than the 152,364 recorded the previous year. This was felt nationally with a 59pc drop in England from 11.6m treatments to 4.7m.
A steep decline was seen for the most routine treatments, which cover procedures including examinations and diagnosis, with 40,445 courses given in 2020, a drop of 66pc from 2019.
The trust spokesman added that patients will receive the soonest possible appointments.
There is no major concern over jabs being wasted as the current supply is of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which is far easier to store than the Pfizer/BioNTech product and can be kept for at least six months.
Patients are being told to only attend their Covid vaccine appointments if it is safe to do so
- Credit: Danielle Booden
Meanwhile, Norfolk and Waveney CCG confirmed all planned clinics at its GP-led primary care hubs would go ahead as planned on Monday.
Patients are, however, being encouraged to consider their safety and only travel to appointments if it is sensible.