NHS Dental Recovery Plan - Healthwatch's response

On 7th February, the NHS and the Government published a plan to recover NHS dentistry setting out a major new focus on prevention and good oral health in young children, and an expansion of dental workforce. 

Evidence collated by the Healthwatch network tells us that people on low incomes, children and women, have particularly found it difficult to get an NHS dental appointment. 

What's in the plan? 

• NHS dentists will be given a ‘new patient’ payment of between £15-£50 (depending on treatment need) to treat around a million new patients who have not seen an NHS dentist in two years or more.  
• People will be able to see which practices in their local area are accepting new patients on the NHS website and the NHS App. The government will roll out a marketing campaign encouraging anyone who has not been seen by a dentist for the past two years to access treatment. 
• A new ‘Smile For Life’ programme will be rolled out to offer parents and parents-to-be advice for baby gums and milk teeth, with the aim that by the time children go to school, every child will see tooth brushing as a normal part of their day.    
• Dental vans will help deliver dental treatment to people in rural and coastal areas.

• A water fluoridation programme will be rolled, which could reduce the number of tooth extractions due to decay in the most deprived areas of the country. Subject to consultation, the programme would enable an additional 1.6 million people to benefit from water fluoridation, first expanding across the North East.

  You can read the full plan here.

What we think 

Over the last three years, Healthwatch England, supported by intelligence shared by local Healthwatch - including Healthwatch Brighton and Hove - have been campaigning for fairer, more accessible, and affordable NHS dentistry. 

Responding, to the NHS Dental Recovery Plan, Healthwatch England CEO Louise Ansari said: 

"Across England, we have seen major access issues in NHS dentistry. The rising cost of living has had a real impact, with our latest data showing that one in five people* have avoided going to the dentist because they can't afford it. A year ago, this figure was one in ten**.  

“The dentistry recovery plan is a good start in addressing these serious problems. To widen access to NHS dentistry to those experiencing the greatest health inequalities, it’s vital dentists take up the new premium payments, promote availability of appointments to new patients and prioritise slots to people most in need. 

“We also welcome the move to incentivise dentists to work in ‘dental deserts’ with golden hellos, to use dental vans in remote areas and to roll out more prevention schemes for children.

“However, in the long run more radical solutions are needed to get NHS dentistry back on track. We welcome the Government’s commitment to consulting with the profession on the contract and urge this to happen as soon as possible.”

We know that people will generally welcome the plan, but ultimately, they would like to be able to register with a local NHS dentist in the same way as they can with a local GP, developing a trusted relationship with a dentist who can prevent poor oral health and treat any new problems or emergencies. 

*Data from a poll of 2008 adults living in England, January, 2024

**Data from a poll of 2000 adults in England, December, 2022

Healthwatch Brighton and Hove CEO Alan Boyd said: 

"In January 2023, the three Sussex Healthwatch teams undertook a short poll to gather people’s recent experiences of accessing NHS dentistry. 68% of patients from Brighton and Hove told us they were not confident about their ability to access NHS dental services; 65% were dissatisfied with waiting times; over half were unable to find an NHS dentist and 1 in 10 could not afford dental charges. A quarter had paid privately because they were unable to access an NHS dentist. We have routinely fed local experiences back to Healthwatch England to support their campaigning for dental change. We have also:

• worked closely with Caroline Lucas MP, asking 16 questions of the Minister responsible for dentistry provision.
• submitted a joint response to a Parliamentary Inquiry into dentistry

"People have told us:

“I am a pregnant woman suffering from toothache and under the maternity exemption and am eligible for free dental care. Please can you assist me as every clinic I have called has denied me this facility.” 

 “I have a problem finding a dental clinic that accepts NHS customers. I am a carer and a single parent who is looking after a severely disabled young adult. I can't afford to pay for full-cost treatment.” 

“We have lived in Brighton for 3.5 years. During that time, it has been impossible to get registered with a dentist for NHS treatment.”

"Healthwatch has been hearing similar concerns from patients about dentistry treatment for many years - and long before COVID. Reforms to NHS dentistry are therefore long overdue. It remains to be seen exactly how these changes will translate to there being better access for people to NHS dental treatment and how those most in need will be prioritised. Our own research shows that not all dental practices are routinely updating their information on the NHS website, making it more confusing for patients to know who they can contact.

"Healthwatch will be speaking to NHS Sussex leads for dentistry to learn more and press for more immediate change. if anyone is struggling to access NHS dental treatment, please contact us and share your story."

You can access our Dentistry – A Healthwatch guide to your rights and accessing the treatment you need