According to new data, almost three quarters of all dentists throughout Leicestershire are not accepting new NHS patients.

Of 120 practices analysed, it was revealed that 89 of them are not accepting new patients over eighteen years of age. This equates to 74% of available NHS practices in the area.

Of the ones who are still onboarding patients, many accept new adults into the practice “when availability allows”, meaning that there may still be years for them to sit on waiting lists.

the data also demonstrated that it’s not only adult patients who are being forced to look elsewhere, as 59 of Leicestershire dentists are also not accepting patients below the age of 18.

British Dental Association Chair, Eddie Crouch, said:

“Every week I speak to MPs reporting how deep the crisis in NHS dentistry goes. There are votes to be won and lost here, and constituents are looking for action. If this ends up as another line on a pledge card at the next General Election there simply won’t be a service left to save.”

An NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB) spokesperson stated:

“Currently, work is underway nationally to transform the NHS Dental contract with the aim of ensuring patients most in need can access NHS dentistry.

Following the first reforms to the dental contract announced in July 2022, a joint NHS and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry has been published.

This plan is an important next step in improving patient access to NHS dental care and supporting dental services to return to pre-pandemic levels of activity.”

“In addition to these activities, the plan announces a range of government-delivered public health initiatives to improve the oral health of children and recommits to the workforce growth and development outlined in the Long Term Workforce Plan.

“The ICB work closely with local organisations such as Healthwatch in order to capture patient feedback helping to inform the future planning and commissioning of dental services across LLR.

“Dental practices across LLR have also been offered an additional two schemes, firstly the opportunity to carry out 10 per cent more NHS work, and secondly, the flexibility to target key patient groups, such as children and other vulnerable groups.

“These schemes are due to go live soon and those providers delivering the schemes will be asked to update their NHS ‘Find a Dentist’ information.”

The measures discussed include:

• A ‘new patient’ payment scheme, allowing those who have not managed to receive care from an NHS dentist in two or more years to get treatment.
• Funding to encourage dentists to work in areas experiencing a treatment shortfall
• A further increase from £22 per patient to £28 paid to dentists for administering treatment, as of April 2024.

The spokesperson finished by adding:

“We acknowledge that these are initial steps, but we are working hard to support the transformation of NHS dental services.”

My two-penneth

It’s bad enough that a huge proportion of adults can’t get the dental care they need in Leicestershire, but it’s even worse that this shortfall has rolled on and begun affecting children.

It’s all well and good having talks and making plans, but people need care now and some may have already been waiting years at this point to receive it.