Labour propose Dentistry Rescue Plan as 84.9% of dentists in Yorkshire and the Humber shut door on new adult patients

Sarah Champion, Labour MP for Rotherham, has welcomed the Party’s dentistry rescue plan which would enable patients to get an NHS dentist again, as new analysis reveals the majority of practices in the county have shut their doors to new patients.

Of the 489 dental surgeries who have provided a recent update in Yorkshire and the Humber, 415 are not currently accepting any new adult patients. 270 (55.2%) are not accepting any new patients at all.

In Rotherham, 12 out of the 13 surgeries that gave an update are not accepting new adult patients.

The collapse of NHS dentistry has left millions up and down the country unable to get an appointment when they need one.

Healthwatch England has reported horror stories of people forced to pull their own teeth out, with 1 in 10 Brits claiming to have attempted their own dental work.

Sarah’s survey of constituents’ experiences of the NHS in Rotherham, launched in December 2022, found that nearly 40% of respondents said they aren’t registered with a dentist. Half of those who are not registered actively attempted to register, but found it impossible.

Labour plans include:

• Funding NHS dental practices to provide 700,000 more urgent appointments, for patients in need of things like fillings and root canal.

• Incentives for new dentists to work in areas with the greatest need, to tackle the emergence of ‘dental deserts’ where no NHS dentists are taking on new patients.

• Supervised toothbrushing in schools for 3-5 year olds, targeted at the areas with highest childhood tooth decay

• Reform the dental contract to rebuild the service in the long-run, so NHS dentistry is there for all who need it

The plans will cost £111 million a year in total and be funded by abolishing the non-dom tax status, which allows people who live and work in Britain to pay their taxes overseas.

Commenting, Sarah said:

"The Conservatives have left NHS dentistry to rot, with patients in Rotherham forced to go without basic care.

“My survey of constituents’ experiences showed just how desperate this situation is, and these figures tell us that it’s only getting worse.

“It is unacceptable that my constituents are suffering because of Tory inaction. I’m pleased that Labour has a fully-costed plan to rescue NHS dentistry by gripping the immediate crisis and reforming the service in the long-term.”