None of Bristol’s 50 dental practices have new NHS patient places available
Residents in Bristol are struggling to see a dentist, as none of the city’s practices are taking on new NHS patients.
Research suggests that none of the fifty practices listed on the NHS website are offering new NHS patient places. A survey conducted during the summer by the BBC found that 98% of NHS practices in the South West region were closed to new adult patients.
Local reporters tried to contact all of the practices listed online but found that most didn’t answer the phone. The practices that did respond were closed to new NHS patients or only taking urgent referrals. Most surgeries that were listed as taking on new patients on the NHS website had not updated their details recently. One dentist said that there was a shortage of NHS places because there were no incentives for dentists to work within the NHS anymore.
Healthwatch England described the situation as “pretty dire” when the BBC released findings of its study earlier this year. Nationally, around 90% of practice lists were full, and in some areas, there were no surgeries accepting new NHS adult patients.
The British Dental Association suggested that the government would need to invest an extra £880 million per year to restore the service to the levels of provision in 2010.
The government recently confirmed changes to the NHS dental contract and Therese Coffey, the new health secretary, highlighted improving access to dental care as one of her main priorities.
For more news click here.
Join this Discussion