Misleading change in NHS dentist list gives false hope to patients

The British Dental Association (BDA) has rejected the government’s claim that 500 practices are now taking on new patients as a result of dental reform launched on 1 March 2024. The trade union and professional body representing UK dentists said on their website that a change to the way availability is recorded has given the appearance of more dentists accepting NHS patients.

In Bristol there are a total of 50 dental practices listed on the NHS website, with 25 currently stating that they are not accepting new NHS patients and 13 practices that have not been updated recently. Of the remaining 12 practices, there are seven that accept NHS patients by referral only, one that accepts children and six that say new patients can be taken “when availability permits”.

Previously, dental surgeries were only required to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as to whether they had spaces for new NHS patients. Under recent changes highlighted by the BDA, the practice appears on the list as potentially accepting new patients, despite being full.

READ MORE: Bristol dental patient left ‘shocked and disappointed’ by NHS dental charges

READ MORE: Dad whose cancer went undiagnosed for months left with broken neck

Of the six dental practices that said they were accepting new adult NHS patients “when availability permits”, four who were contacted said they had reached capacity, one did not respond and the remaining dentist had a number that was no longer in use.

A receptionist explained that when the update was posted nearly two months ago, the new spaces were filled within a week. The staff member explained that the list on the website is “not reliable” and that while those listed as having spaces may not have any, there may be practices that are now accepting new patients but have not updated -o in the system.

Among the practices listed as having no recent update was Bupa Dental in St Pauls, which closed almost a year ago. While St Pauls dentist, which took its place and still offers NHS places through its website, is not on the list.

As an alternative, a dental chain running out of premises in Bristol suggested its Bath practice, which now offers one-off appointments. There would be no guarantee that NHS treatment would be available after the initial screening, but unlike those who appeared to have premises in Bristol, they were open to putting patients on a waiting list.

A petition to save NHS dentistry by increasing funding and creating a new contract, rather than reforming the existing one, has now gathered over 200,000 signatures. Meanwhile, the latest NHS figures show that in the South West 99 per cent of dental practices are not accepting new adult NHS patients.