'Nine-year wait' for NHS dentist in Bridlington

Two NHS dentists in the town closed permanently at the end of 2022

People trying to join the only NHS dentist in Bridlington have been told there are 8,500 people on the waiting list and it would take eight to nine years to get an appointment.

The mydentist practice is the only one providing NHS dentistry in the seaside town, which has a population of about 35,000, after two others closed permanently at the end of 2022.

A spokesperson for mydentist said it was "actively recruiting new NHS clinicians to join the team" but it was "currently at full capacity".

A statement from the NHS said it had not yet been able to attract new dental providers into Bridlington, "despite our best efforts".

Emma and Dexter could not find an NHS dentist within 30 miles (48km) of their home

Emma, a carer for her nine-year-old son, was left without an NHS dentist when Bridlington's Bupa practice shut in November 2022.

She said: "I went in one day and they said 'all the dentists have left'. I've just been left adrift really."

Emma, who recently needed emergency treatment to remove a tooth, said she was on "a waiting list, for a waiting list" in Scarborough, which is 18 miles (29km) away.

Scarborough is the nearest place taking new NHS patients, she said.

"I know one person who rang an emergency dentist and they ended up in Doncaster," said Emma. "I have a friend who kept her dentist in Manchester. If you move here, you just don't let your dentist go."

She recently found an NHS dentist in Hull for her son Dexter who is type 1 diabetic and regularly needs to drink glucose. At his first appointment, he needed five fillings.

"I was getting very anxious trying to get him in to be seen," Emma said. "I knew it was an issue, all the glucose we use.

"It's heartbreaking. It's desperate that's he's waited until he's nearly 10 to get a dentist."

mydentist in Bridlington is only accepting new private patients

Only two dental practices remain open in Bridlington. Bridlington Dental Studio only treats private patients.

Residents told the BBC it had a waiting list "10 pages of A4 long", but it has not responded to BBC requests to confirm that figure.

The mydentist practice provides NHS treatment for some existing patients, but was now only taking on private work.

A spokesperson said: “As the only NHS provider in Bridlington, we are aware of the high demand for NHS dental care in the area.

"While our practice team continues to work hard to treat as much of the local community as they can, we are currently at full capacity.

"Despite a national shortage of dentists, we are actively recruiting new NHS clinicians to join the team in the hopes of growing this capacity in the future.”

Wayne Campbell (centre) and his family in Bridlington

When lorry driver Wayne Campbell moved back to Bridlington six months ago, he, his wife and their five children all started their fruitless search for an NHS dentist. Mr Campbell remains a patient in Warwickshire, where the family used to live.

"Whenever I need a check-up or any work doing, I have to travel down to Rugby, which is roughly a three-hour drive."

Mr Campbell's wife and children were at a different practice which has shut down, so they are waiting to join a practice in Scarborough.

He said: "They said there's still an extremely long wait and they don't know when we can get in.

"I didn't realise how bad it actually was. I thought it would be a few months we'd have to wait."

NHS: 'every sympathy' with patients

NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), which took over responsibility for commissioning dental services in East Yorkshire last April, said it had "every sympathy with patients who are in this position."

A statement said: "We have not yet been able to attract new dental providers into Bridlington, despite our best efforts. We are continuing to work with existing providers to increase access where we can and will continue to try and attract new provision through the procurement route."

It continued: "We are working hard with the profession and local dental practices to continue to improve services. However, more needs to be done nationally to support ICBs in delivering this agenda."

Some people from Bridlington have taken drastic measures to find dental care, including travelling to Turkey and using superglue and a DIY plastic kit bought online to fix a crown.

Emma described the situation as "desperate", adding: "Having one dental surgery for the whole of Bridlington that's NHS is not enough for a town of this size.

"There's also two big building sites for new housing, so there needs to be a big push to build another surgery and recruit dentists."