Family unable to see a dentist in four years

University courses Medicine & Psychology
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Kelly O’Donnell and her family have been unable to see an NHS dentist for over four years after their previous dentist went private in 2021. Living in Bethel near Caernarfon, Gwynedd, she has searched extensively but can’t find an NHS dentist taking new patients, with even waiting lists full. High private dental costs make this option unaffordable for her. O’Donnell worries about her children’s dental health and notes that kids are more likely to heed a dentist’s advice than a parent’s.

The issue highlights a broader dental care crisis in Wales, with only 44.8% of people receiving NHS dental treatment in 2023, and just 36.6% in O’Donnell’s area. There are staffing shortages, with 41.3% of practices in North Wales having dentist vacancies. The number of dental practices in Wales has also decreased since before the pandemic.

Arfon MS Sian Gwenllian is urging the Welsh government to open a new dental school in Bangor to address the shortage. She argues that inadequate workforce planning has led to the current crisis. The Welsh government says it is working on recruitment and retention initiatives and exploring contract reforms to better serve communities. However, O’Donnell remains on a waiting list, with a three-year wait for NHS dental care. She fears that without access to care, families like hers will increasingly turn to emergency services.

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We can but hope that this is something the new government will tackle in their NHS reforms. A recent paper in the British Dental Journal (link below) cites the following points (my added emphasis):

  • Dentists are leaving the NHS and it is important to fully understand the factors which are influencing their decisions.
  • The recruitment and retention of dentists is a major concern in many locations and this is contributing to a further deterioration in access to NHS dental care, in turn reinforcing geographical imbalances and growing oral health inequalities.
  • The lack of clear and robust data is undermining our ability to address the current dental workforce issues and compromises long-term strategic planning.
  • There is an urgent need for immediate action at local, regional and national levels to ensure recovery from the current crisis and safeguard the future of primary care NHS dentistry and general dental practice.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-5737-5

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