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One in Five Adults Face Dental Desert Crisis
18 Oct
Summary
- Only 20% of adults access NHS dentists in worst UK areas.
- South West England sees biggest NHS dental access problem.
- Dental funding has not kept pace with inflation or population.
A stark investigation reveals that in some parts of the UK, fewer than 20% of adults are able to access an NHS dentist, creating widespread 'dental deserts.' The South West of England is identified as the region with the most acute problem regarding NHS dental access. This crisis is exacerbated by dental practices closing their NHS books, pushing patients towards expensive private options.
Analysis shows that on average, only 40% of adults in England have seen an NHS dentist in the past two years, with Peterborough having the lowest access rate at just 20%. Dental funding for NHS England has remained stagnant at approximately £3 billion for over a decade, failing to account for inflation and population increases. This has led to a real-terms funding cut, leaving the budget insufficient to cover care for half the population.
Recent government data indicates progress in child access, with a 7% increase in courses of treatment. However, in approximately 70 parliamentary seats, less than half of children have seen an NHS dentist in the last year. The Department of Health and Social Care states it is actively working to fix NHS dentistry by increasing training places and reducing regulatory burdens, aiming to improve access to urgent dental treatment.
