The BV magazine, April ‘23 NEWS
Where have all the dentists gone? It’s now a common cry: ‘Does anyone know of an NHS dentist?’ But why is the lack of NHS dental care such an issue? Rachael Rowe investigates the problem in Dorset When was the last time you saw a dentist? Are you even able to access an NHS dentist? With NHS dentistry becoming harder to find – but across the entire country – what is happening to the provision of dental health care? ‘After many many months of searching and calling and emailing different dentists, I am yet to find one taking on NHS patients. I have a severe need to see an NHS dentist as I’m really unable to eat because of the pain which has led to weight loss and other health complications. I The pink dots show the 93 Dorset dentists registered on the NHS website, highlighting the gap in provision in Purbeck, and the north west, mid and north east of the county.
am a young adult who doesn’t work currently due to disability and illness and am unable to pay for private dentistry treatment which I have explored too.’ Patient comment, in the Healthwatch Dorset report. How many see an NHS dentist? Data from NHS England shows that fewer than half the adults in the South West have seen a dentist in the last two years. If they end up with a problem, chances are they will not be able to access NHS dental care. Healthwatch Dorset has recently
published a report on the state of dental access in the county. The recent survey of Dorset’s 93 dental practices found that, at the end of 2022, none was taking new NHS patients. So what is happening and how is care being prioritised? Healthwatch Dorset manager Louise Bate explained what had caused her most concern about the report: ‘Last year when we did this questionnaire there were three dentists taking patients. This year, there are none. It’s getting worse. Even if the contracts are changed, there are no dentists.’ Of the 78 dental practices that responded to the Healthwatch survey, none was taking new NHS adult patients, 17 now only treat private patients and only 18 were accepting new NHS patients if they are children. Seven practices said they were accepting patients with additional needs, and 23 practices had waiting lists, half of which were more than 12 months long. Dorset’s below average Maps indicate that there are dentists in North Dorset, but they are not taking any NHS patients right now. The South West Dental Reform
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