Four-year waits to register with NHS dentist revealed

A paper in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly noted “people waiting an average of 1,441 days to register with a dentist”, which equates to about three years and 11 months.

The estimate covers both Cornwall and neighbouring Devon, which together have a combined population of nearly 2 million, and is taken from the average waits of those registered with an informal helpline run across both areas, which tries to help people find an NHS dentist.

The ICB stressed to HSJ that it was not a formal waiting time measure and may be an over-estimate as some people who had spoken to the helpline may have since moved away.

The Corwall ICB paper, published earlier this year, says there is no formal waiting list held, but gives the figure as an indication of an average wait.

A spokesperson for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB said: “We are implementing a range of measures locally to address national pressures on NHS dentistry.

“This includes commissioning additional urgent care and stabilisation services, operating an emergency dental service to deliver 20,000 appointments a year, an extensive schools’ dental education programme, free dental treatment for local fishing communities, and a pilot which is helping to retain NHS treatment for children and other vulnerable patients and is treating some of those who have been waiting the longest.”

Board papers say Cornwall is commissioning additional sessions as far as possible and taking measures to target excluded populations who are likely to have the worst problems. 

Dental access has been a major problem nationally post-covid, but HSJ analysis earlier this year found Devon and Cornwall were, along with Somerset, struggling the most to secure planned activity.

Parts of the South West have been described as “dental deserts”, and rural and coastal areas are particularly badly affected, linked to staffing shortages.

The British Dental Association said four-year waiting periods are “not unheard of” and it estimates unmet need for NHS dentistry now stands at 13 million, or more than one in four of the adult population. NICE recommends adults should have oral health reviews every two years.

Healthwatch said that the four-year wait was “not a surprise” as the South West is regarded as one of the worst areas for access.

Reports earlier this year said residents of Bridlington on the east Yorkshire coast faced nine-year waits for NHS dental appointments, due to just one NHS dentist serving the town of 35,000.