Dentists in Wales are warning that the future of NHS dental care is at risk, with some predicting the possibility of no NHS dentists remaining in the country within the next two years. Dr. Harj Singrao, a dentist in Newbridge, Caerphilly, expressed deep concerns over NHS contracts, which he says are failing to adequately support dental practices, particularly in high-need areas like his.
Dr. Singrao, who runs Newbridge Dental Care, described feeling “strangled” by the current system, explaining that the “one-size-fits-all” funding model means he often loses money providing high-quality care to patients in need. He explained that dentists receive a fixed amount per patient, regardless of the treatment required, and are penalized if they fail to meet targets. This rigid system, he believes, makes it financially unsustainable for practices like his to offer proper care to the community.
“People either disappear for years and come back with serious problems, or they need constant attention, and the system isn’t set up to handle this,” Dr. Singrao said. “I lose out financially by providing complex treatments when I could have done several routine check-ups instead.”
The British Dental Association (BDA) Cymru recently released an open letter criticizing the Welsh government for providing misleading information about the state of NHS dentistry in Wales. The BDA claims that many dental practices are considering giving up their NHS contracts due to financial constraints, exacerbated by the rigid and inadequate funding model.
Despite the concerns, the Welsh government has insisted that it is working to reform the NHS dental contract to ensure it is fairer to both patients and dental professionals. A spokesperson said, “We are working with the British Dental Association to design a new contract, and we will be putting proposals out for consultation soon.”
However, Dr. Russell Gidney, a dentist from Chepstow who recently returned his NHS contract, warned that the situation is dire. He explained that NHS dental contracts are causing financial strain on practices, especially those that have been treating patients for years but can no longer afford to continue. “It’s physically going to cost me money to treat some patients,” Dr. Gidney admitted. “I never envisioned having to make this decision, especially coming out of COVID, but the system is no longer sustainable.”
The BDA has emphasized the need for open dialogue with the Welsh government to address these issues. Dr. Gidney stressed that the current system is broken, and without proper changes, many dentists may be forced to stop treating NHS patients altogether, further exacerbating the crisis in dental care.
The concerns are especially pressing in rural areas, where access to NHS dental care is already limited. Plaid Cymru representative Llŷr Gruffydd MS highlighted the growing issue in north Wales, where only a small fraction of practices continue to offer NHS treatment, and patients face long waiting lists. He recounted the case of a constituent who tried to extract their own tooth and ended up with sepsis, underscoring the real-life dangers of inadequate access to dental care.
Critics, including Welsh Conservative James Evans MS, have accused the Welsh Labour government of failing to address the crisis in NHS dentistry, particularly in rural communities. Evans suggested that if more resources were allocated to dentists instead of political hires, the situation could improve.
As NHS dental care in Wales faces an uncertain future, many are calling for urgent reform to ensure that practices can continue to provide essential services to patients without being forced into financial jeopardy.
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