NHS Dentistry Rapid Evidence Review

Engaging Communities Solutions CIC have become increasingly aware of issues with access to NHS dentists across our seven local Healthwatch. We wanted to understand how our findings at local levels compared to the national picture.

Our review found that our local Healthwatch findings in Halton, Sandwell and Stoke-on-Trent echoed those of the House of Commons Health Select Committee, Healthwatch England and other local Healthwatch.

Two of our local Healthwatch areas, Halton, and Stoke-on-Trent, are in the ten areas with the fewest NHS dentists for the population. 73% of people who took part in our research in Stoke-on-Trent reported that they found it difficult to book a routine appointment with an NHS dentist and 32% of people in Halton said that it was impossible to book a routine appointment.

Increasing numbers of people are finding themselves to be 'de-registered' by their regular dentists and this was also the case in both Halton and Stoke-on-Trent. Once people have found themselves in this position they then struggle to find another NHS dentist.

People are travelling long distances to access NHS dentists, with our research echoing findings from other local Healthwatches. People in Halton reported that they were travelling out of the area and in some cases travelling up to 60 miles to access NHS dental care.

Work is still being carried out by our local Healthwatch as access to NHS dentistry continues to be a challenge.

Whilst our findings show the difficulties with access to dental care the change in commissioning responsibilities to Integrated Care Boards provides an opportunity for ECS as a Healthwatch provider to raise the issues that the public are facing in accessing NHS dentistry with local commissioners and contribute to local needs assessments.

You can read the full report HERE.