A NEW investigation has revealed the number of patients in Warrington and Halton who have been diagnosed with tooth decay.

The investigation by Public Interest Lawyers comes amid troubles in securing a dentist appointment.

At Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation, 1,393 patients have had a diagnosis of tooth decay since 2021.

The trusts run two hospital sites and more than 30 community hubs and facilities across the two boroughs.

Those suffering from dental problems should be treated at their local dentist with regular appointments to avoid severe situations, yet with many dentists not taking on new patients, people are turning up to A&E in their tens of thousands.

According to the BBC and the British Dental Association (BDA), 90 per cent of dentists across the UK are not taking on new NHS adult patients, and many refuse to see a child unless a parent is signed up as a private patient.

In 2021/22, the number of patients diagnosed with tooth decay in Warrington and Halton hospitals stood at 471.

A year later, this number decreased to 399 but the past year has seen a jump in patients diagnosed with tooth decay and related issues, standing at 523.