Filling the gap: local authorities demand help amid dentist shortage

Council chiefs are urging more work needs to be done to help the dental sector even after the government has unveiled its new dental care plan.

This week, the Department of Health and Social Care delivered a new strategy to help the dental sector following research by the Local Government Association (LGA) which outlined that no area in England has more than one NHS dentist per 1000 of the population.

The LGA discovered residents in rural and more deprived areas are more likely to face shortages than their counterparts. The City of Westminster reportedly has six times the number of NHS dentists compared with Ashfield, which was found to have the lowest in the England.

The plan to help dentists includes:

• All NHS dentists will receive fairer payments for providing more complex dental care to those who need it most
• Dentists will be required to update the NHS website regularly to make it clear when practices are taking on new patients and the services available

Neil O’Brien, the Health Minister said, ‘I am determined to make sure everybody seeking NHS dental care can receive it when they need it.

‘Our new contract rewards dentists more fairly for taking on high needs patients and delivering treatments to those who need it most.’

Previously, dentists would receive the same payments for all treatments delivered within band 2, which includes fillings and tooth extractions, regardless of the amount of time taken to deliver the work. 

The new plan, which is aimed to drive more people into dentistry, should also help people access more affordable care rather than having to go private due to a lack of NHS practices. 

However, Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA Community Wellbeing Board has requested more work needs to be done.

Mr Fothergill said, ‘There are significant numbers of dental deserts across the country, with many people lacking access to affordable dental care. These shortages are most severe in rural and deprived communities.

‘Although these changes to dental contracts is a start in tackling the issue, much more can be done to address these shortages.

‘The government should commit to a comprehensive dental workforce strategy as well as providing a real terms increase to councils’ public health grant, so they can provide vital oral health improvement programmes to prevent longer term health problems.’

Photo by Artur Tumasjan