Dentist shortage leaves thousands unable to access NHS care in York
A shortage of dentists means that thousands of people are unable to access NHS dental services in York.
Recent statistics show that only 59% of residents have a dentist and practices in the city are struggling to cope with the demand for treatment. A representative from Perfect Smile Clinic said that they feared the team would be unable to care for patients safely due to a shortage of staff.
At present, none of the 39 practices located in the city are accepting new NHS adult patients and local MP, Rachel Maskell, said she was “really worried” about the situation.
Some constituents have contacted her suggesting that they are travelling for over 30 miles to see NHS dentists and some are even thinking about going abroad for treatment.
Ms Maskell, the MP for York Central, has launched a petition calling for the end of the NHS dental contract, which she describes as “unworkable.” The contract has been widely criticised. Ms Maskell has also urged ministers to look into opening a new dental school in the region to boost recruitment.
Perfect Smile Clinic, which is located in the city centre, is currently working at a reduced capacity due to staff shortages. The owners are struggling to fill vacancies, which means that it now has two dentists and two dental therapists. Before the pandemic, there were six dentists.
In a statement, a representative said that the team is working “non-stop” and the staff are “exhausted” trying to fit as many NHS appointments in as possible. There are now 6,000 patients who do not have an allocated NHS dentist, as well as a waiting list of 2,000 people.
The proportion of York residents with a dentist has fallen from 84% in 2018 to 59% in 2022.
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