A petition urging the Government to adequately fund NHS dentistry was submitted today. The online petition garnered 120,632 signatures, emphasizing that the current £3 billion allocation for dentistry in England is only sufficient for half the population to access dental services when needed. Compared to other UK regions, the Westminster government invests nearly half less per capita in dental services for England.
The Mirror has collaborated with the British Dental Association (BDA) and advocacy group 38 Degrees for the Dentists for All campaign, which initiated the petition titled “Fund NHS dentistry NOW.” BDA Chair Eddie Crouch emphasized the urgent need for new investments to address the accessibility and affordability challenges in dental care, urging the government to take action.
The oral health crisis in England is escalating, with approximately 14 million adults facing unmet dental needs. Due to a decade of budget cuts, many dentists are no longer accepting new adult patients, leading some individuals to resort to self-extraction of teeth due to the unavailability of NHS dental care.
Proposals are in progress to revamp the existing NHS dental payment contract, which is criticized for causing financial losses to dentists treating patients requiring extensive care. The current system compensates dentists the same amount for varying levels of treatment, contributing to a shift of NHS dentists to private practice and a decline in new NHS patient enrollments.
Matthew McGregor, CEO of 38 Degrees, stressed the importance of immediate funding for NHS dentistry to ensure millions of individuals have access to affordable dental care without enduring pain and distress. The stagnant £3 billion budget for NHS dentistry in England since 2010 has resulted in a substantial real-terms cut, with inadequate adjustments for inflation and population growth.
Moreover, the British Dental Association revealed that the government’s direct funding for dentistry in England has decreased by £20 million under the Tory administration, even before accounting for inflation. While patient charges have escalated above inflation rates, government funding has not kept pace, leading to challenges in providing accessible and affordable dental services.
The reluctance to increase direct funding coincides with significant rises in patient charges, exemplified by a notable £128 surge in denture costs since 2010. This has raised concerns about the financial burden on patients and the overall sustainability of NHS dentistry in England.
