Rising numbers struggling to access NHS dental care

As many as four in five people are struggling to access timely NHS dental care during the last coronavirus lockdown.

Healthwatch recorded a worrying 22 per cent rise in calls and complaints about dentistry between January and March 2021., with the watchdog finding a lack of consistency across the country when it comes to accessing a dental appointment. Whilst some people were asked to wait an unreasonable time of up to three years for an NHS appointment, those able to afford private care could get an appointment within a week.

Regarding costs, a poll of 2,019 adults commissioned by us found 61 per cent of respondents felt that NHS dental treatments were expensive. Nearly a quarter of the public now said that they will now only visit the dentist when they need treatment, despite clinical guidelines recommending regular dental check-ups to keep people’s mouths healthy.    

Imelda Redmond, National Director of Healthwatch England, said: “The twin crisis of access and affordability hitting NHS dentistry means many people are not able to access timely care – and the poorest are hardest hit. Those human stories show that oral health is a social justice and equity issue.  
Reform of dental contracts needs to be a matter of urgency for this government. New arrangements should include making access to NHS dental services equal and affordable for everyone, regardless of where people live, their income and ethnicity. Failing to act now will result in long-term harm for thousands of people, putting even greater pressure on the already overstretched healthcare system.”

Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities have told local Healthwatch that they are less likely to be registered with an NHS dentist and more likely to struggle to access one when they needed to.

Disrupted care has been an issue throughout the pandemic. People have been asked to wait from anywhere between a few months to a few years for NHS dental appointments.