NHS Dentists

Overview

This report, published by Healthwatch Southend in December 2022, provides an update on access to NHS dentistry in Southend-on-Sea. It responds to a growing volume of enquiries from residents struggling to find NHS dental care and reflects wider national concerns about access, workforce capacity and affordability.

The report examines the availability of NHS dental appointments, the reliability of information provided to patients, and the additional barriers created by travel costs and the cost of living crisis. It also highlights the particular impact on children and families.

Purpose and approach

Why this work was carried out

Healthwatch Southend, alongside other local Healthwatch organisations, has consistently heard from residents who are unable to find an NHS dentist. In response, Healthwatch has been lobbying MPs and engaging with system partners to press for improvements to NHS dentistry.

This report was produced to provide an evidence-based snapshot of the local situation, highlight gaps in information and access, and raise key questions ahead of planned system changes.

How the information was gathered

Healthwatch Southend:

• Used a fictional but realistic case study to illustrate the cumulative impact of access, cost and travel barriers
• Reviewed information published on the NHS.uk website about dental practices accepting new NHS patients
• Contacted local dental practices directly, including asking specifically about children’s appointments
• Considered national survey findings from Healthwatch England

Key findings

Limited availability of NHS dental appointments

At the time of the review, there was no clear evidence of available NHS dental capacity within Southend itself. While a small number of practices outside the city appeared to be accepting NHS patients, access often depended on referrals or limited capacity, and required patients to travel significant distances.

This lack of local provision meant that residents were frequently forced to choose between going without care, paying privately, or travelling elsewhere at additional cost.

Outdated and unreliable information

The report found that information on the NHS.uk website was often out of date, with some practices showing no updates for several years. This made it difficult for patients to identify where NHS dental care might realistically be available and led to frustration and repeated, unsuccessful attempts to contact practices.

Advice directing patients back to NHS.uk or to NHS England’s Customer Contact Centre often failed to resolve the issue, as the underlying lack of capacity remained unchanged.

Children’s access to dental care

Healthwatch Southend initially expected that access issues would mainly affect adults. However, direct contact with practices revealed that children also faced significant barriers to NHS dental care. Many practices were not accepting children at all, or only offered emergency or very limited capacity.

This is particularly concerning given existing levels of dental decay among children in Southend, and the importance of early, preventative dental care as part of wider child health and wellbeing.

Cost of living and affordability

The report highlights how the cost of living crisis has further exacerbated access issues. National survey data showed that increasing numbers of people were avoiding dental appointments due to the cost of treatment, travel, phone calls or internet access.

Importantly, the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme does not cover travel to NHS dental appointments, meaning patients who are forced to travel outside their local area face unavoidable additional costs.

A fictional case study of a Southend resident demonstrated how travel costs, time commitment and NHS charges can quickly accumulate, creating a significant financial burden even before further treatment is required.

Workforce and system pressures

Nationally, the number of dentists providing NHS care has declined, and this trend is reflected locally. The report notes a reduction in the number of dentists doing NHS work in Southend over recent years, alongside falling numbers of adults and children seen by NHS dentists.

These pressures sit alongside an ongoing national review of the NHS dental contract and forthcoming changes that place responsibility for commissioning dental services with Integrated Care Boards.

Conclusion

The report concludes that access to NHS dentistry in Southend is severely constrained, with residents facing a combination of limited capacity, poor-quality information and rising financial barriers. These issues disproportionately affect children, people on lower incomes and those unable to travel easily.

With responsibility for planning and funding NHS dentistry transferring to Integrated Care Boards, the report emphasises the urgency of addressing both access and transparency. Without action, there is a risk that oral health inequalities will widen further and that residents will continue to be pushed towards private care or go without treatment altogether.