Archive for the ‘NHS Dentistry’ Category
Isle of Wight dental practice stops NHS care
A dental practice on the Isle of Wight has stopped providing NHS services. The owners of Sandown Dental Practice confirmed that the practice would stop offering NHS dentistry from July 1st. The practice has been an NHS provider for over 30 years. The surgery, which is located on The Broadway, is offering private dental care […]
Health minister shares plans for NHS dental contract changes on a visit to Portsmouth practice
Health minister, Maria Caulfield, has shared plans for changes to the NHS dental contract on a visit to Smile Dental Care in Rowner, Portsmouth. Ms Caulfield, the minister for patient safety and primary care, suggested that modifications to the current contract, which was launched in 2006, were imminent. Speaking to local reporters, she stated that […]
Scottish dentists criticise plans to reduce NHS support payments
The British Dental Association has criticised plans to reduce NHS support payments for dental practices in Scotland. Dentists have accused the Scottish Government of “pulling away the life support” from NHS dental services. The comments came after health secretary, Humza Yousaf, confirmed that additional payments will decrease from 70% to 30% from August. Uplift fees, […]
NHS dental services to return to Helmsley
NHS dental services are set to return to Helmsley after a two year absence. Helmsley Smiles will offer NHS care to patients in the Yorkshire town. The practice owners are currently awaiting final inspections before they open the doors to residents. The town has had no NHS dental provider since the pandemic hit. Helmsley Smiles […]
MPs call for urgent action to improve dental services as patients resort to DIY treatment
MPs have called for urgent action to improve access to NHS dental services, as patients across the country resort to DIY treatment. During a debate led by Labour, several MPs shared stories centred on the struggles of their constituents. Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, said that a man had come to her constituent […]
DIY dentistry on the rise, as 90% of practices turn away NHS patients
DIY dentistry is on the rise, as around 90% of dental practices in England are forced to turn away NHS patients. Figures suggest that almost 90% of practices have no adult NHS places and a third cannot accept any more children for NHS care. A shortage of NHS dentists and huge backlogs accrued during the […]
Healthwatch Bolton criticises dental services as patients struggle to find NHS places
Healthwatch Bolton, an independent patient watchdog, has criticised local dental services, as patients struggle to find NHS places. The group has raised concerns over NHS dental provision after it was reported that a quarter of dentists in the town have left the service. Patients are contacting the watchdog with increasing regularity, often raising the same […]
Bath MP claims NHS dentistry is at ‘breaking point’
The MP for Bath claims NHS dentistry is at ‘breaking point’ in the city. Wera Hobhouse, from the Liberal Democrats, criticised the government and suggested that ministers are ‘asleep at the wheel,’ as access issues in the city deepen. Bath is one of the worst areas in terms of dentist to patient ratios, with four […]
Dentists warn that clearing NHS backlogs could take years
Dentists have warned that it could take several years to clear NHS dental backlogs after millions of appointments were lost during the pandemic. When Covid-19 first hit the UK in early 2020, dental practices closed between March and June. Since clinics reopened, there have been strict protocols in place to reduce the risk of infection, […]
NHS dentistry in Cornwall branded ‘a failure of staggering proportions’
The director of public health at Cornwall Council has branded the county’s NHS dental services “a failure of staggering proportions.” Rachel Wigglesworth made the comments in response to a new report, which was recently presented to the council’s Health and Adult Social Care Committee. The report revealed that a third of 12-year-olds in the county […]
