NHS dentist crisis grows

TWO in five people struggle to see an NHS dentist – with one county forced to stop taking on patients, it has emerged.

Somerset cannot register new NHS dentist patients for routine care, patient group Healthwatch England said.

The body warned a lack of access to NHS dentistry is deepening health inequalities nationwide. Polling found 41 per cent of people have had difficulty booking an appointment, while almost a quarter had to pay privately.

It also warned that some elderly people in care homes were being struck off NHS dentist lists after not being able to attend an appointment in the pandemic.

An NHS spokesman said they had committed ‘£50million for people requiring urgent care treatment’.