NHS dentistry is facing a critical shortage, with leaders warning that the lack of access to care is adding strain to an already overwhelmed health system. According to sector leaders, NHS dental services have “effectively ceased to exist,” as a growing number of patients struggle to find available NHS dentists.
Reports emerged this week of patients queuing from as early as 2:30 am outside a practice in the north west of England, hoping to register with a dentist. A branch of the My Dentist chain, which announced it would accept 20 new NHS patients per month, saw over 100 people gather, with some bringing camping chairs to secure a spot. One individual described the situation as “unacceptable,” noting that elderly people were also waiting in line. Similar scenes have been witnessed in other cities such as Bristol, Leigh, and Kings Lynn.
The crisis stems from an exodus of NHS dentists to the private sector, with many practices no longer accepting new NHS patients. A recent survey by the Office for National Statistics revealed that 97% of people seeking an NHS dentist were unable to secure care. As a result, 11% turned to private treatment, while a small percentage sought help from GPs or A&E. The majority simply went without dental care.
Lord Ara Darzi’s independent review of the NHS highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that only 30% of NHS dental practices were accepting new child patients, and just 40% were open to new adult registrations. Darzi called for urgent reforms, emphasizing the need for a contract that incentivizes dentists to balance treatment and prevention, particularly in underserved areas.
Eddie Crouch, Chair of the British Dental Association (BDA), warned that the shortage of NHS dental care would inevitably increase pressure on other parts of the health service. “For new patients, NHS dentistry has effectively ceased to exist,” Crouch said. “This crisis is forcing some to go private, while others in pain are forgoing needed care altogether.”
In response to the growing demand, My Dentist has announced plans to introduce a waiting list system to manage patient registrations more fairly, replacing the current first-come, first-served approach.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the crisis, stating that the government is committed to rebuilding NHS dentistry. Plans include an additional 700,000 urgent dental appointments and reforms to the dental contract to encourage more dentists to offer NHS services. Additionally, the government aims to introduce supervised toothbrushing programs for young children to prevent dental problems in the long term.
Despite these efforts, the dental community warns that without significant reform, the lack of access to NHS dentistry will continue to push patients towards expensive private care or force them to go without treatment, exacerbating health inequalities across the country.
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