Patients struggling to find an NHS dentist

According to government data, over 1 million patients cannot find an NHS dentist, with 25% of new patients in the north of England and 19% of Londoners unable to access an NHS dental appointment, so it comes as no surprise that 59% of dental practitioners in England are planning on scaling down or leaving the NHS entirely.
The British Dental Association says staffing issues in NHS dental services are beyond crisis level, and it has heavily criticized the government for its lack of action over the growing recruitment and retention crisis. Eddie Crouch, vice chair of the BDA, said: “High Street NHS dentistry is on the brink, and it’s the patients who need us most who risk losing out. Across England practices are now unable to fill vacancies, as a system of unforgiving targets pushes talented colleagues out. The result is hundreds of thousands of irregular attenders are falling through the cracks. These aren’t just patients seeking a regular check-up, they are often people in pain, left without the care they need. Dentists were looking for a lifeline in the recent 10 Year Plan, but were offered little more than a footnote. The practitioners who have done most to support the NHS are now paying the price for that indifference.”