MPS’ warning over access to NHS dentists

DENTISTS have been ordered to update their details for potential new NHS patients amid fears that more people are being forced to go private and face sky-high bills.

It follows complaints from MPS that their constituents are finding it “impossible” to access NHS dental treatment.

An official website allows patients to type in their postcode and find local dentists willing to accept NHS patients.

But Health Minister Maria Caulfield revealed that she had personally checked the site and discovered many practices are failing to provide up-to-date details.

She said: “We have asked dental practices to update their availability for NHS patients on the website.”

She said the Department of Health would tell officials “to update the lists so that patients can access NHS dentistry more easily”.

Some practices have not updated their details, including indicating whether they accept new patients, since 2015.

The Government is also concerned about a fall in the number of practices providing NHS treatment. Nationwide the number has fallen by 951 over 12 months. It is planning to reform the way dentists are paid for extensive work, in a bid to encourage them to accept new patients.

Ministers are also considering making it easier for overseas dentists to practise in the UK.

While many patients pay for NHS dental treatment, with fillings costing around £62, prices are significantly cheaper than private treatment. A non-nhs filling can cost up to £250.

Quizzing ministers in Parliament last week, Tory MP Tom Hunt warned: “A number of my constituents are finding it impossible to access NHS dental care.”

He added: “Some of them have contacted 40 practices and have not got anywhere.”

Another Conservative, Sir Peter Bottomley, said: “Where people cannot find a dentist and have not been able to for two or three years, there must be a way for people to get on a dentist’s list and get treated, and for dentists to be properly rewarded.”

A Department of Health spokesman said: “We’ve given the NHS £50million, up to 350,000 extra dental appointments and we are growing the workforce – in December 2021 there were 264 more dentists than in 2020.”