Leicestershire loses 10% of its NHS dentists in one year
There is concern about the future of NHS dentistry in Leicestershire after new figures revealed that 10% of the county’s NHS dentists left the service last year.
Figures from the Reach Dental Unit suggest that 72 dentists left the NHS in 2020/2021. This equates to 10% of Leicestershire’s NHS dentists and represents a much higher fall than the national average in England.
Nationally, 4% of dentists left the NHS, but in some areas, the numbers were far higher. Bolton was among the worst-affected towns, with 25% of NHS dentists quitting the service.
Data suggests that West Leicestershire CCG had the highest number of dentists leaving the NHS in the county at 16%. In the city, 11% of dentists left and in East Leicestershire and Rutland, the figure was just 2%.
Data from across the country has sparked fervent discussion about NHS dental provision, with backlogs still an issue for dental teams and more and more patients facing waiting times or a choice between travelling, joining a waiting list or paying to go private.
The British Dental Association has voiced concerns about the long-term impact of access issues and the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, described the situation as a “real crisis.”
The most common complaint patients have is limited access to NHS dental appointments. People are struggling to see a dentist and this means that short term, relatively mild problems are turning into more complex issues.
There are also fears that people who cannot afford to see a private dentist will lose out and there are concerns about children’s dental health and a possible surge in oral cancer cases due to patients being unable to access routine services.
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