Up to 98 per cent of NHS dental practices across the Bristol region are not accepting new patients. An investigation carried out by the BBC and British Dental Association has uncovered how little access there is for the health service up and down the country.
The nationwide survey found that nine in ten NHS practices across England were not accepting new adult patients, but the figures were even worse in the Bristol region.
Across Bristol, there were 47 different NHS practices contacted as part of this investigation. Evidence showed that almost every single dentist practice reached out to was not accepting new patients.
Read more: Passengers back tax rise if it means saving their buses
A similar issue has been revealed in Bristol's neighbouring regions. Of all practices contacted in North Somerset, not a single one was accepting new patients.
Meanwhile, only six per cent of practices in South Gloucestershire were taking on new patients. Bath and North East Somerset saw an even smaller percentage with just four per cent taking new adult NHS patients.
Shawn Charlwood, chairman of the British Dental Association’s general dental practice committee, said: “NHS dentistry is at a tipping point, with millions unable to get the care they need and more dentists leaving with every day that passes.
“We’re seeing the results of years of chronic neglect, set into overdrive by the pressures of the pandemic. The question now is will ministers step up before it’s too late?
“Nothing we’ve heard from government to date gives us any confidence this service has a future. Without real reform and fair funding NHS dentistry will die, and our patients will pay the price.”
The BBC and BDA identified 8,533 dental practices across the UK that were believed to hold NHS contracts, and attempts were made to call them all between May and July. A practice that required a referral to take on a patient was not treated as accepting new NHS patients, as a referral requires an initial appointment
Of the practices not taking on adults in England, 23 per cent (1,124) had an open waiting list and 16 per cent (791) said the wait was a year or longer, or could not say how long it would be.
The figures for the acceptance of new child patients were a little better. 79 per cent of NHS practices in England were not accepting new children, and about 200 would only take a child on the NHS if a parent signed up as a private patient.
