THE ISSUE
There is an NHS dental crisis in Weston-super-Mare.
Residents in Weston-super-Mare looking for an NHS dentists will find there are currently no dentists taking on new NHS patients throughout the entire North Somerset.
Those who have an NHS dentist are finding more and more that their practice is going fully private – just recently I was made aware that a large practice in the centre of Weston will no longer be providing NHS dentistry.
Many residents have expressed frustration to me and are concerned they are unable to afford to pay for private dentist treatment and that their children will not be able to see a dentist.
I’ve discussed with dentists what is making them leave the NHS contract and they have outlined lack of progression, poor payment rates and an overly complicated NHS contract that doesn’t encourage taking on new patients.
This issue has been going on for years – it’s a scandal and isn’t acceptable.
THE NEWS
CAMPAIGN UPDATE
Recently Weston-super-Mare elected its first Labour member of parliament and fixing NHS dentistry is one of Labour’s key priorities. I’m now working with the MP to ensure that NHS dentistry is improved in our area and will update on this soon.
Before the election of a Labour MP, Weston-super-Mare Labour party launched a campaign in 2024 calling for urgent action to fix NHS dentistry in Weston-super-Mare. Your stories of how you are being impacted by the lack of access to NHS dentists were powerful and helped us to lobby decision makers in Weston-super-Mare and in Westminster.
🦷🦷There is a dental crisis in Weston-super-Mare. 🦷🦷
I called this out in 2022 as the Chair of the Health Committee but it's got worse, and now there are no NHS dentists in Weston-super-Mare accepting new patients.
This is a scandal and we're campaigning for improvements.
From speaking with dentists I know the NHS contract is a mess - it doesn't fairly compensate them for NHS work, it's overly complicated and doesn't have sufficient capacity to meet demand.
We know there aren't enough dentists too and even private dentists are finding it slow to get registered and set up - I know because I've engaged with them.
Labour for Weston is campaigning for change locally but we need your voice and we need to hear your experiences. Your voice is powerful - so share your story about trying to access NHS dentists.
Please complete our Google form ⤵️
docs.google.com/forms/d/10sSCMDWgjhXZVqE3EzRaa8nTNeh4T1w9sMtwR2ZGUb0/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3WpDkibp...
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
I’ve frequently raised the scandal of no access to NHS dentists in Weston-super-Mare and I was recently on BBC Radio Bristol outlining the issue and what steps need to be taken to urgently attract dentists back to the NHS contract in Weston-super-Mare.
It’s not just NHS dentists that are struggling. I’ve also been made aware that new private dental practices – some are keen to take on NHS contracts – are finding the process to register as a new practice in Weston-super-Mare is taking too long.
I’ve supported with a letter to CQC outlining the need to urgently approve new practices locally.
During my time as Chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee on North Somerset Council I invited NHS England to come along and explain why services are so poor and to outline that I and residents are expecting improvements soon. I was advised in 2022 that a dental recovery plan is being developed – we’re still waiting.
DO YOU STRUGGLE TO GET NHS DENTAL APPOINTMENTS IN NORTH SOMERSET?
On Thursday i'll be chairing North Somerset’s Health Scrutiny Panel and on the agenda will be the scrutiny of dental services in North Somerset and I've invited NHS England along. The panel will be looking at things such as access, quality, and post covid plans.
I’m keen to hear from residents about your experiences using local dental services, particularly whether you've struggled or not to get an NHS dental appointment.
I've set up a poll with a single question to understand people's experience accessing NHS dental appointments - if you have a moment please complete. Poll is here: wh86qqlnd5y.typeform.com/to/w2ANcxJV (i've had to use a different platform for the poll as Facebook doesn't have this function anymore).
If you have any general feedback about your experiences with dental services in North Somerset please do leave a comment (please don't name the dental practice or the dentist).
I appreciate this isn't the most scientific thing but it will help me to understand some of the issues (as well as good things) from the perspective of residents.
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
My dentist last month tried to cancel my NHS appointment in July and move it to next January as that was when the dentist next had a free slot. It was cancelled due to the dentist going on leave. I firmly but polity told them I have health conditions that affect my teeth, so I could not wait until January. As a result, I will now still be seen in July, just on a different date than planned.
Unable to get an nhs dentist at all for me or my young daughter. We have the added issue that we require level access and not many dentists have that. My daughter currently is in pain and we cannot find anyone to see her. It is a total nightmare!!
Tried to find an NHS dentist for myself and young daughter. Eventually found one surgery that said they were taking new patients and let us (I thought) register and book appointments, although they were in about 7 months. About 3 months later I got a letter saying they were going to have to cancel them and to ring up to rearrange. When I rang, they said they were no longer taking new patients, we didn't count as existing patients until we'd had our first appointment. They didn't care about the months the we'd wasted already waiting for them, or that my 1 year old daughter needed to be seen. Months later I've found somewhere else finally but still waiting for that magic first appointment when we officially become patients. Having to travel out of Weston for it too
Can you do anything about people not being able to get a drs appointment too?
GET IN TOUCH
I can help residents with various local issues who live in the ward of Winterstoke (Weston-super-Mare) which includes Haywood Village, Locking Castle and Weston Village.
Please use the contact form to get in touch with me. Please remember to provide as many details as possible, including your name, address and full details of your issue.