Anecdotally many people are struggling to get registered with an NHS dentist. I’m sure many
of us know at least one person that has been on an NHS dentist waiting list for over 12
months and there is no end in sight. This is true for so many people in the UK, and according
to the British Dental Association, there are around 13 million people unable to access NHS
dentistry.
In my constituency of Hammersmith and Chiswick, there are 37 dental practices, and of
these, 25 take NHS patients. My constituency has a population of 116,740 residents all
sharing 25 NHS dental practices – is it any wonder the waiting lists are so long?
Dental care and treatment are a very important part of the overall health and wellbeing of our
society. Without it, health inequalities begin to arise, where those with the ability to pay for
dental treatment have access, and those who cannot afford it are left without. Untreated
dental issues can lead to serious and painful health complications that could have easily
been avoided by routine dental check-ups.
The Public Accounts Committee session on NHS dentistry made it clear that there is
insufficient funding for the whole population to have access to an NHS dentist, but this
cannot be an accepted reality. MPs and Minister must do more to ensure accessibility to
NHS dental treatment for everyone who wants to access this service.
I would urge my colleagues in Parliament to meet with their Local Dental Committee to
understand the problems and hear about ways we can help to resolve the matter. The dental
profession as a whole is very concerned about the future of NHS dentistry, but they are well
equipped to advise on what we can do to improve outcomes.
Andy Slaughter MP is Member of Parliament (Lab) for Hammersmith and Chiswick.
