Tens of thousands of people in Swansea Bay to be given…

Tens of thousands of people in Swansea Bay to be given NHS dental appointments

Around 28,000 new patients will be offered NHS appointments at dental practices in Swansea Bay by April, 2023. The hope is that it will help tackle the huge backlog in patients waiting to get an NHS dental appointment, following reports of people pulling their own teeth out in desperation.

It comes as the proportion of people who go to an NHS dentist has plummeted over the past few years. Across the UK, a poll showed that fewer than one in three adults had seen an NHS dentist in parts of England in the last two years.

In a report published by Swansea Bay Community Health Council, one patient said: “I moved to Swansea during the pandemic. I have called every dentist in the area to see if they are taking on NHS (patients) but have not had any luck for the past year and a half.” Another patient said: “Since Covid started, I cannot get any dentist. A dentist was supposed to phone me when they had a vacancy. Two teeth I pulled out myself.” You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.

Now the Welsh government has updated contracts with dental practices across Wales to ensure they will see more NHS patients. Swansea Bay’s dental practices should see around 28,000 new patients between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, according to Swansea Bay NHS.

Over fourteen thousand appointments have already been allocated to new patients and people who are looking for an NHS dentist for routine care should contact a number of their local practices and, if an appointment cannot be offered straight away, ask to be put on their waiting list. There is no limit to the number of waiting lists you can join and a practice will be in touch if they have an appointment for you.

A new patient is classed as someone who has not been to that dental practice in the last four years. The health board advises that those needing urgent dental care and who do not have a regular dentist should call 111 as there is a service for people who are in pain or have facial swelling. Those who already have a regular dentist can contact them directly or call 111 if it is out-of-hours.

Sharon Miller, associate director for primary care at Swansea Bay University Health Board, said: "Similarly to other services, the number of patients able to be seen at dental practices was very limited during the pandemic. The target of seeing up to 28,000 new patients is hoped to make a significant impact on the backlog of those waiting for appointments.

“Dental practices were closed at the start of the pandemic and then very restricted on the number of patients that could come through,” added Ms Miller. “This new expectation puts a real focus on new patients being seen.”

Karl Bishop, the health board’s dental director, said: “The offer made by Welsh Government to practices in Wales to move to a contract model that encourages prevention and access for the most vulnerable and in need in our communities has been enthusiastically taken up by dentists in Swansea Bay.

“Almost 100 per cent of NHS dental care within the health board will be within this new model. This is a huge positive reflection on the commitment and foresight of our dental practitioners and their teams. It also provides significant benefits and opportunities for our communities as part of the health board’s drive to improve oral health and its impact on wider general health and social and family life.”