Fury over decision to give 500 asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm NHS dental services
A decision to provide dental services to the 500 asylum seekers at the Bibby Stockholm NHS has drawn criticism from locals who have struggled to get treatment.
There are nine NHS dentists in nearby Weymouth and Portland, where the ship is docked, but none are taking on new adult patients.
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Locals face a three-year wait to register, and one drives four hours to Birmingham for treatment.
Others have considered pulling teeth with pliers.
However, NHS Dorset will receive almost £1million from the Home Office to provide health care for asylum seekers on the refugee ship.
A medical facility on board will be manned by an experienced nurse five days a week.
On one of these days a family doctor will be on site.
Those with dental problems will be placed on the already struggling NHS 111 emergency dental service.
Kayleigh Masters, 35, a local caregiver, said: “I need a root canal.
“It costs more than £1,000 but I can’t afford it.
“I’m in a lot of pain.
“I thought about getting a pair of pliers and pulling the tooth out myself.
“The government should take care of us first.
“If we went abroad, we would have to pay for the treatment.”