Rugby dentists urge patients to contact local MP amid access crisis
A dental team from Rugby has urged patients to contact their local MP amid an NHS dental access crisis.
Patients who call the Atwal and Barot practice will now hear a voicemail explaining that there are currently no available NHS dental places. The message suggests that the situation will get worse and encourages patients to contact their MP to talk about the issue.
Mark Pawsey, Conservative MP for Rugby and Bulkington, said that he had already raised concerns over access to NHS dental care within his constituency and had been “encouraged” by the government’s response. The government has highlighted dental access as one of four priority health issues to tackle in the coming months.
The government has already made changes to the NHS dental contract, but there are plans to go further, including easing recruitment restrictions for dentists who wish to join the service from overseas.
Recruitment issues are affecting NHS dental practices across the country. Research conducted by the BBC and the British Dental Association (BDA) suggests that around 90% of UK practices are unable to accept new adult NHS places at the moment. In some areas, the figure rises up to 99%.
BDA estimates indicate that around 3,000 dentists have left the NHS since 2020, which is contributing to a shortage of appointments.
The new voice recording at Atwal and Barot confirms that there are no private or NHS places available. The waiting list, which already has over 500 patients on it, has also closed.
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