4am queues for NHS dental treatment could become the ‘new normal’

UK: Experts are warning that daily 4am queues for dental appointments could become a ‘new normal’ in many communities, highlighting the growing crisis in accessing dental care in the UK.

Leigh, a town in Greater Manchester, has now joined a list of communities where patients are queuing from the early hours of the morning to secure a spot at a dentist. Reports from Faversham in Kent revealed that last month, a practice received a staggering 27,000 calls for just 60 available NHS slots. In another instance, a practice in King’s Lynn saw queues of over 300 people forming from 4am.

Dentist Exodus from NHS and Unmet Needs

Dental leaders are sounding the alarm, warning that the exodus of dentists from the NHS will continue unless fundamental reforms are implemented. They argue that without significant changes, the future of dental services in the UK is in jeopardy.

Overwhelming Demand for NHS Dentist Places: Thousands of Inquiries and Long Queues

Recent government data paints a concerning picture, with only 43 percent of adults over 18 having seen a dentist in the 24 months leading up to June 2023. This represents a decline compared to the same period before the pandemic. Approximately 12 million people currently have unmet dental needs, with over six million adults failing to secure an appointment in the past two years. These figures are nearly three times higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Dentists Leaving NHS

Separate figures reveal that 121 fewer dentists provided NHS care last year compared to the previous year, and more than 500 dentists have left since the start of the pandemic.

The access crisis is forcing some patients to resort to DIY dentistry, including attempting to extract their own teeth due to the inability to secure professional care.

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The Health and Social Care Committee conducted an inquiry into the state of the NHS dental service and labeled it ‘totally unacceptable in the 21st century.’ The inquiry recommended fundamental changes, particularly in reforming the NHS contract that dentists work under.

Awaiting a Recovery Plan

Despite a promise made in April, a recovery plan for NHS dental services has yet to be published by the government.

Eddie Crouch, Chair of the British Dental Association (BDA), commented on the situation, saying, “These scenes have no place in a wealthy 21st-century nation, but risk becoming the new normal for millions of patients. Ministers need to come armed with solutions to this crisis or NHS dentistry won’t have a future.”

Source: Daily Mail Australia

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