Years of campaigning by Healthwatch and others have exposed widespread problems for people across England who cannot get care from an NHS dentist.
Unlike people seeking a new GP practice after being deregistered from their current GP when their local NHS integrated care board must help to place them with a new NHS practice if they can’t find one themselves, dental patients don’t have the same security – even if they’re moving to a new area.
People lost their right to register with an NHS dentist in 2006 when a new NHS dental contract was introduced to pay dentists per ‘unit of dental activity’ rather than getting paid per person registered on a list of permanent patients, combined with set fees for each treatment delivered.
The contract means a dentist has no long-term obligation to see patients on the NHS unless they are undergoing active treatment or dental work already carried out is under guarantee.
The contract is unpopular with dentists, with many cutting back NHS work and leaving people without NHS appointments, often with little warning.
Last year, MPs concluded the NHS dental system was broken and Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting promised a new Dental Rescue Plan after Labour came to power in July.
To inform future Government action on dentistry, Healthwatch carried out what is believed to be the first polling of its kind in England. It tested the public’s understanding of how NHS dentistry works and what people think about various future options that policymakers could consider.
Healthwatch commissioned two polls from Savanta Nationally representative by age, region, and gender in England, asking questions about understanding of dental ‘registration’ and the preferred future model for accessing routine NHS dental care:
- 1-3 March 2024: 1,942 adults (aged 18 and over) living in England
- 13-15 September 2024: 1,791 adults (aged 18 and over) living in England
Key findings from the poll
Over two-thirds, 68%, of respondents mistakenly believe they still have the right to register with an NHS dentist as they do with an NHS GP.
When asked about their preference for getting NHS dental care, over half, 54% of 1,791 respondents said they want to be able to register with an NHS dentist as a permanent patient in the same way as they can with an NHS GP.
The poll also found:
- One in five, 20%, said they had difficulties finding information about NHS dental fees.
- Similarly, 19%, believed they were charged more than advertised NHS dental charges.
- One in seven, 15%, of people who had seen an NHS dentist in the last two years felt pressured to pay privately.
- Younger people, 18-34, and people from ethnic minority groups were more likely to believe they were changed more for dental care. They were also more likely to feel pressured to pay privately than other demographic groups.
The report includes a quote from a female respondent to the survey who told Healthwatch South Tyneside:
“I have been registered at the [name removed] Dental Care practice for over 50 years and I have always regularly had check-ups and treatment when necessary. I was notified by [the practice] in April this year that with effect from 1st August the practice was only offering Private Treatment Plans. I have been unable to find a dentist in South Tyneside willing to accept me as an NHS patient.”
The Dental Rescue Plan has pledged to deliver 700k extra urgent NHS dental appointments for patients in the short term. However, no details have yet been set on the rescue plan, the timetable, or the terms for a long-term reform.
Louise Ansari, Chief Executive at Healthwatch England, said: “This research is a stark reminder that people continue to struggle to access NHS dental appointments, as dentists routinely ditch working to the NHS dental contract.
“There’s also confusion about the relationship between an NHS dentist and patients, with many patients mistakenly believing they can register with a dentist for life.
“It’s clear NHS dentistry is not fit for purpose and that people want a new kind of solution – a GP-style system, which will allow them to register permanently with a dental practice to access ongoing appointments and check-ups easily
“It’s now vital that government consults with the public and dental leaders to determine what kind of dental system they’ll deliver to improve people’s oral health now, and for future generations.”
Last year, Healthwatch England supported the call by MPs on the Health and Social Care Committee to reintroduce permanent registration rights for patients.
Responding to the findings, an NHS England spokesperson said: “While we know there is a lot more to do to improve access to dentistry services for patients, this should never be an excuse for dentists to require patients to join as private patients for their children to receive NHS dental care – that is completely unacceptable.”
Source: https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/news/2024-11-20/publics-confusion-over-right-register-nhs-dentist
