No way back for universal NHS coverage - dentist

Dr Zoe Wray said a core NHS service could cover the basics, but not much more

A dentist based in Stoke-on-Trent has said she believes it would be impossible to return to universal NHS dental coverage.

Dr Zoey Wray, who has left the health service, claims many colleagues believe the answer is a core NHS service covering the basics.

The British Dental Association has said that NHS dentistry is in crisis across the West Midlands.

All the main political parties are setting out plans to revive it, but none have explained how they would be funded.

Dr Wray said she could never return to NHS dentistry because the 2006 contract, introduced by a Labour government, pays the same for treating a patient for one filling as it would for providing them with 10 fillings.

"Many of my colleagues believe that providing a core service for people that can't afford private dentistry and for children is the way forward, but not providing them with everything that is available to dentistry," she said.

"That’s quite a difficult thing for governments to contemplate, because it's not very popular with everyone."

Dr Wray said she would never return to NHS dentistry because of the 2006 contract

Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association, said there were problems accessing NHS dentistry services in the West Midlands, particularly in some inner city areas like Stoke-on-Trent and rural areas like Herefordshire and Shropshire.

The picture is complex though. Official data shows the number of dentists providing an NHS service has remained the same across the West Midlands between 2018 and 2022.

However, there are 73 fewer in the Black Country and 60 more in Birmingham and Solihull.

The real issue is that they are providing far less NHS dental activity - about 18% less nationally.

'Chance to save NHS dentistry'

Healthwatch Stoke-on-Trent, which represents the public, said 73% of patients surveyed in 2022 found it hard to see an NHS dentist - 62.5% had not seen an NHS dentist for two years.

Mr Crouch said: "We have seen a significant reduction in the number of dentists wanting to commit to NHS dentistry and I think that the general election is a tipping point for NHS dentistry.

"There is an opportunity to save it depending on the political agenda of the new government."

The Conservatives say that they introduced a dental plan in February.

They are offering dentists £20,000 to deliver care in areas where finding a dentist is difficult. They also plan to increase undergraduate training places by 40% by 2031, tying in new dentists to work in NHS dentistry for three years .

They are also offering incentives to take on new patients.

Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association, said the general election could be a "tipping point" for NHS dentistry

Labour is matching the £20,000 incentive scheme to attract dentists to hard-to-recruit areas and will provide 700,000 extra emergency appointments.

It wants a toothbrushing scheme in schools for three to five-year-olds in the most deprived areas and believes a new dental contract is key.

It has committed from "day one" of a new government to sit down and negotiate a new dental contract.

The Liberal Democrats are campaigning to reduce tooth decay - the most common reason for six to 10-year-olds to be admitted to hospital.

They would guarantee access to NHS dentistry for children, mothers and those on low incomes.

The Green Party is also calling for a new NHS contract to end the dental deserts in rural areas.

Reform UK says it would put patients in charge by giving them a voucher for private treatment if they cannot see an NHS dentist.