Ministers vow to get NHS dentistry ‘back on feet’

The government has vowed to get NHS dentistry “back on its feet” by starting a rollout of 700,000 extra urgent appointments pledged in Labour’s manifesto.

However, leaders from the profession claim the action will translate into just two extra slots a month for each NHS dentist and said ministers should have “fired the starting gun” last summer.

NHS England has written to integrated care boards across the country, instructing bosses to stand up thousands of urgent appointments over the coming year.

Extra appointments, for patients in pain who have infections or require urgent repairs, will be made available from April and have been targeted at so-called “dental deserts”.

Patients will be able to access them by contacting their practice or calling NHS 111 if they do not have a regular dentist.

Health minister Stephen Kinnock added: “We promised we would end the misery faced by hundreds of thousands of people unable to get urgent dental care. Today we’re starting to deliver on that commitment.

“NHS dentistry has been left broken after years of neglect, with patients left in pain without appointments, or queueing around the block just to be seen.

“Through our Plan for Change, this government will rebuild dentistry, focusing on prevention, retention of NHS dentists and reforming the NHS contract to make NHS work more appealing to dentists and increase capacity for more patients.

“This will take time, but today marks an important step towards getting NHS dentistry back on its feet.”