Health bosses concerned over NHS dentist shortage

Health bosses in Derbyshire hope to encourage more dentists to take up more NHS patients

Health bosses have admitted they are concerned about the lack of NHS dentists in Derbyshire.

A shortage of available NHS appointments was discussed by Derbyshire County Council’s health scrutiny commission on Monday.

The meeting heard patients were having to make long trips to get treatment.

Councillors also heard there have been seven NHS contract terminations across the Derbyshire since March 2022.

Patients in Ripley have struggled to get NHS appointments, councillors said

Ripley, which has a population of 20,000, lost its last NHS dentist in January.

Resident Catherine Taylor, 29, who moved to the town from Grimsby as a teenager, said she still she returns to her childhood Lincolnshire dentist for treatment because she is concerned she will not get a place nearer to home if she leaves the practice.

"I'm worried that I won't be able to get one, it's all you hear that you can't get an NHS dentist,” she said.

"It takes me an hour an twenty minutes each way."

NHS boss Clive Newman said he wanted more Derbyshire dentists to take on NHS patients

Clive Newman, director of primary care for the NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) said there was a problem with access to NHS dentistry.

However he said he hoped a new contract, rolled out earlier this year, offering more money to dentists could encourage more to return to NHS work.

When asked about NHS provision in Ripley, Mr Newman said: "It is a concern.

"We get a lot of people saying they can't get [an appointment].

"What we're trying to do is work with our local dentists by increasing the amount of money we give them to see NHS patients.

"We want to ensure they have longer term contracts so they have more stability."

Ripley councillor Paul Moss said he is often contacted by residents who cannot get a NHS dental appointment

Ripley county councillor Paul Moss said: "For many people it's really difficult. At the moment, there is no NHS dentistry available.

"It takes time to train dentists and it will take a period of time for that availability to come through.

"We need to see some action because in my patch is people are really struggling to get the dentistry they require."

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