The motion was passed by a majority of over 95 per cent of delegates at the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) annual meeting, which took place in June at the WI’s ‘spiritual home’, the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Melissa Green, CEO of the NFWI, said, “Our members recognise that there is a chronic shortage of NHS dentists and people are suffering serious health issues as a result. This resolution has garnered the support of thousands of our members – and we’re now calling on the post-election government to increase investment in the training and retention of dentists, and to review the current, woeful, NHS situation.”
At the event, Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association, gave a passionate speech to bolster support for the case. Speaking after the vote had passed, he said, “Politicians on all sides should take heed of this vote. The WI is a body that has struck fear into prime ministers. NHS dentistry’s future hangs in the balance, but its chances have gone up with the Women’s Institute on side.”
WI members are no strangers to inadequate dental healthcare, with many sharing experiences of being unable to see an NHS dentist or having to pay significant sums for private dentistry.
One member said, “I feel guilty that, for my children, we are paying for just one check-up and hygienist per year - but we chose to do so because of the cost [of going private] and the fact that their teeth are in better condition [than ours].”
Another member said, “At the start of covid, I had an appointment for a filling, it was postponed, it was then rearranged, but a day before it was cancelled, due to the dentist being ill. [Then] I was told I was no longer on their books, as they were going to become a private practice the following week – which we couldn’t afford.”
“Mouth and teeth health is paramount to getting heart surgery done as it’s a site of secondary infection,” a WI member said. “So we had to find a dentist for my husband very quickly, and there were no places for NHS dentist where we live – so we had to search for a private one who would take him on at short notice, increasing the cost considerably.”
The NFWI has urged its network of over 180,000 women to pressure MPs and local decision makers following the general election.