Dentistry services are in crisis in Bristol and the South West, with many patients unable to get appointments on the NHS in any reasonable time frame.
Figures from the Association of Dental Groups show that 43 per cent of patients in Bristol could not book a timely dental appointment, while BBC spotlight reveals that the number of South West NHS dental practices fell by 200 between 2017 and 2021.
Darren Jones, the MP for Bristol North West, blames the Government for its "failure" to reform how dentists are paid for NHS work, and says that ministers appear to have concluded that access to NHS dentists "isn't a universal right".
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The Labour MP, who also chairs the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, secured an adjournment debate in parliament this evening entitled 'Access to NHS dentistry services in Bristol and the South West', where he hopes that ministers will explain what their plan is to address the vacuum of dental services in our region.
Speaking to Bristol Live earlier today, Mr Jones explained why this debate is so important for Bristol residents and the country as a whole: "We have had months of feedback from constituents that they can't access an NHS dentist in Bristol.
"And essentially, the only way you can get an appointment is by paying private fees to see often the same dentist, but as part of their private time as opposed to their NHS time."
In July 2021, Bristol Live investigated the availability of dentistry on the NHS in Bristol in July 2021 and found that of the 21 practices listed on the NHS website as being within two miles of the city centre, not a single one was accepting new NHS patients, with some waiting lists stretching for seven months.
However, at least 12 of the surgeries were accepting new private patients, with appointments available immediately.
The problem, Mr Jones says, is with the contracts that dentists have with the NHS - the current contract dates from 2006 and allocates a certain number of NHS appointments per practice each year that dentists cannot exceed. This limits the number of NHS appointments available, even though dentists do have available time slots to fill.
Calling for specific and detailed action, Mr Jones said: "The first thing is there needs to be a commitment to reforming the NHS dentistry contracts because that's the root of all of these problems. We have dentists who have the capacity to treat patients on NHS treatment, but they're not allowed to because of the NHS England contract.
"The Government has essentially decided that access to an NHS dentist isn’t a universal right for every person and that only those with the most urgent dental emergencies, or those who can afford to go private, are seen by a dentist. If ministers disagree with this, they would step up and change the NHS dental contract now."
The Government has been exploring updating the contracts for the last few years.
Mr Jones said: "I don't know the latest, and the minister will have to tell me in her response to the debate. I know that they've been looking at it, but quite frankly, they've been looking at it for years, and they need to get on with this.
"The last time this was done was in 2006, for heaven's sake. I mean, it's generations ago. So I'll be asking for an update from the minister this evening, and we'll see what she says."
That's a crucial solution to a problem that has been building for years, and that has now been exacerbated by Brexit. Mr Jones is calling for the Government to reverse its plan to bar non-UK-trained dentists from practising in the UK from 2023, calling the move "insane".
He said: "For decades, we recognised EU-qualified dentists to practice in the UK perfectly safely. And now we're saying that by the end of next year, we're no longer going to recognise their qualifications and allow them to work here. I mean, it's just ridiculous.
"We know we have a shortage of dentists, and we know that there are adequately qualified dentists available a stone's throw away, so why we would let ideology get in the way of being able to treat patients, I just don't understand."
This is particularly important, he says, given that the only other way of increasing access to dentistry services is by increasing access to training - dentistry courses last five years, and then another one or two of supervised practice, meaning that even if the Government were to plough more money into training tomorrow, it would take years for them to start being able to treat patients and address the current shortage.
But the big question on everyone's lips is - can the Government actually do anything right now? With Sue Gray's report into allegations of parties in Downing Street due this week, coming with the possibility of Boris Johnson being sacked by his own party, does the Government have the capacity to address this key issue, or are they distracted by the political chaos?
Mr Jones shared his view: "Yes, they do have capacity and yes, they should be doing it, and that's why we're raising it. But, you're right to identify that they also have enormous political problems of their own failure that they're having to deal with.
"And, quite frankly, if they haven't got the capacity to do the day to day work of government, they should call an election and get out of the way."
Mr Jones' debate entitled "Access to NHS dentistry services in Bristol and the South West" will take place from around 8.30pm tonight in the House of Commons, available to watch live on Parliamentlive.tv, BBC Parliament, or on iPlayer.
Have you struggled to book an NHS dental appointment in Bristol? Email ben.bloch@reachplc.com if you would like to discuss your experience
