NHS dentistry in crisis: Dentists respond to Times investigation on access

Of those surgeries with information on NHS Choices, the study found 49 per cent are currently unable to take on new adult NHS patients, while some 42 per cent are unable to see new children at all. 

The investigation suggests areas including West Devon, North Lincolnshire, Gosport, Barrow-in-Furness and Stafford are unable to take on any adult NHS patients at all.

The BDA has long criticised the cost limited funding system for dentistry that can provide care for little over half the population. Targets for activity are set in contracts – dentists are penalised if they fail to meet targets, but are not paid if they exceed them, even if they have capacity to meet patient demand.

The BDA has expressed concern that the government is failing to honour two successive manifesto pledges to make a decisive break from the target driven contract system introduced in 2006.  It has questioned responses from NHS England, which suggest that new initiatives such as ‘Starting Well’, which target high needs children in just 13 local authorities, will meaningfully expand access.