The National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that the government’s dental recovery plan is failing, leading to a deepening crisis in access to NHS dental care. The plan, which aimed to provide an extra 1.5 million treatments in England this year, is in disarray as key elements have not been achieved. The promised new fleet of mobile dental vans has not materialized and only one additional dentist has been recruited with the £20,000 “golden hellos” incentive.
Even if the plan were to deliver as promised, there would still be 2.6 million fewer treatments offered by the NHS this year compared to pre-pandemic levels. Only 40% of adults in England have seen a dentist in the past two years, down from 49% pre-pandemic. Patient groups are expressing alarm over the state of NHS dentistry, with an estimated 13 million people being denied access to appointments.
Labour ministers are working on their own plan to address the crisis, including introducing supervised tooth-brushing for young children. The dentistry minister has acknowledged the challenges faced in rebuilding the dental service and has promised additional urgent dentistry appointments to help those in need. There are calls for the government to prioritize NHS dental care and make it a true priority before it’s too late. The public is encouraged to eat a healthy diet and maintain good oral hygiene to reduce the risk of needing dental care.
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