Thousands seek help from A&E amid 'dental desert'

A shortage of NHS dentists means people are turning to the emergency department in desperation

Thousands of people are reporting to hospital emergency departments with toothache as people struggle to get NHS dental appointments, figures show.

More than 3,500 people arrived at Great Western Hospital's A&E in Swindon, Wiltshire, with toothache and facial pain between January 2021 and May 2025, a freedom of information request has revealed.

Chippenham's Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Gibson, who submitted the request for the data, said Wiltshire had become a "dental desert", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A spokesperson for NHS England South West said the government's 10 Year Plan aimed to make NHS contracts more attractive to dentists.

"These figures reveal the cost of the government not supporting our NHS dentists," Ms Gibson said.

"This only puts more pressure on our overstretched hospital services, who are doing a fantastic job under immense strain," she added.

MP Sarah Gibson (R) received the data via a freedom of information request

The British Dental Association (BDA) has warned of an "unprecedented collapse" in dentistry, with many dentists pulling out of NHS contracts because they are overworked and underfunded.

Earlier this month, the Hathaway Dental Practice in Chippenham, said it would no longer provide NHS services to its patients from 1 November.

It said the practice had lost four NHS dentists in the past few months, and received no applicants when it put out an advert for replacements.

A report published in March 2023 found less than half of children in Swindon have access to an NHS dentist, or 47.6%.

The figure is still higher than the England average of 46.9%, but children in the town are nearly three times more likely to have teeth removed than others across the wider south west.

The council has now launched a project to promote good oral hygiene, which is particularly aimed at children under five.

The government has pledged to reform NHS dental services

NHS England South West said patients attending A&E for dental care would be triaged and assessed, given pain relief if appropriate and directed to contact their own dentist.

The body said it aimed to improve patient access to dentistry by introducing a "tie-in", a proposed requirement for newly-qualified dentists to work in the NHS for a minimum period after completing their training.

"Work is also underway through the establishment of centres for dental development to bring together dental education and training with service delivery models, particularly in areas where there is a shortage of workforce relative to population needs," it added.

Last month, Health Secretary Wes Streeting refused to set a time frame for when the government would reform the dental contract - the framework which pays NHS dentists.

The reforms were a key manifesto pledge for the Labour government, but Mr Streeting said: "Unless I am 100% certain I can achieve the promise, I don't make it".