Number of NHS dentists drops - hitting lowest figure in almost a decade

Recent findings obtained by the British Dental Association shows that 23,577 dentists performed NHS work in the last financial year, down from 24,272 the year before. The lowest figure, excluding during the COVID pandemic, since 2014/2015.

Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Harrogate & Knaresborough and former public health researcher, commented:

“The latest stats from the BDA confirm what we all already know, that despite the endless rhetoric from the Conservative Government the problem is getting worse, not better & it is almost impossible to get an NHS dentist.

“Earlier this year I met with Lib Dem Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP in Parliament to discuss this issue, and we urged Ministers to visit Harrogate & Knaresborough to see this problem first hand, they refused.

“Today alone I’ve been contacted by two local residents who’ve had to go private because they just can’t access a NHS dentist. 

“This Conservatives Governments record is one of driving our dental services into the ground, driving NHS staff away, clobbering patients with eye watering charges when they already are struggling with the cost of living.

“It’s clear that the Conservatives are too busy mired in scandal to get on with the job. 

“Locally, only the Liberal Democrats have a plan to fix our dental services. We want to see urgent reform to the broken system that has driven dentists away from the NHS, and the Government investing cash earmarked fro NHS dentistry that has scandalously gone unspent."

Recent findings obtained by the British Dental Association shows that 23,577 dentists performed NHS work in the last financial year, down from 24,272 the year before. The lowest figure, excluding during the COVID pandemic, since 2014/2015.

Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Harrogate & Knaresborough and former public health researcher, commented:

“The latest stats from the BDA confirm what we all already know, that despite the endless rhetoric from the Conservative Government the problem is getting worse, not better & it is almost impossible to get an NHS dentist.

“Earlier this year I met with Lib Dem Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP in Parliament to discuss this issue, and we urged Ministers to visit Harrogate & Knaresborough to see this problem first hand, they refused.

“Today alone I’ve been contacted by two local residents who’ve had to go private because they just can’t access a NHS dentist. 

“This Conservatives Governments record is one of driving our dental services into the ground, driving NHS staff away, clobbering patients with eye watering charges when they already are struggling with the cost of living.

“It’s clear that the Conservatives are too busy mired in scandal to get on with the job. 

“Locally, only the Liberal Democrats have a plan to fix our dental services. We want to see urgent reform to the broken system that has driven dentists away from the NHS, and the Government investing cash earmarked fro NHS dentistry that has scandalously gone unspent."