Dental crisis leaves 96% of practices unable to take new NHS patients
- A recent Mirror investigation revealed a dental care crisis in England, with a staggering 96% of practices not accepting new NHS adult patients.
- Patients have resorted to extreme measures, including traveling abroad for dental care and attempting DIY repairs.
- This situation, worsened by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to calls for reform in NHS dental care access.
In recent months, England has seen a significant access crisis in NHS dental services, with 96% of dental practices refusing to accept new adult patients. This alarming trend has caused many individuals to seek alternative solutions for urgent dental treatments, leading some to spend their life savings on flights abroad for care. At least one in ten constituencies in England is without a single practice willing to take on new patients, a situation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic that left many without a dentist. Patients have reported desperate measures to address dental issues, including attempts at home remedies, due to exorbitant costs and limited availability of NHS services. The Healthwatch England watchdog has highlighted these issues, noting that parents often feel compelled to register their children as private patients to access NHS dental care, labeling this practice a breach of contract. The current NHS dental contract creates financial disincentives for dentists, which contributes to the ongoing crisis of dental care availability.