London Assembly Health Committee publishes report on dentistry

News - 17 January 2025

London Assembly's Health Committee published a report, 'Decay and Delay' on the state of dentistry in the capital. The report drew on feedback shared by a number of local Healthwatch including Healthwatch Islington, Lambeth and Richmond.
Dentist Older White Female Patient

Key findings

  • 47.1 per cent of children in London did not access an NHS dentist between March 2023 and March 2024.
  • In the two years to March 2024, just 39 per cent of adults accessed an NHS dentist in London, while just 53 per cent of children accessed an NHS dentist in the previous year.

Dental care in Haringey

Compared to other London boroughs Haringey's population had better access to a dentist. The report showed that in the two years up to March 2024, 26.2 per cent of adults in Tower Hamlets accessed an NHS dental appointment compared to 53.2 per cent in Lewisham. 30 37.8 per cent of children in Hackney had accessed an NHS dental appointment in the previous 12 months, compared to 67.6 per cent in Haringey.

The reality is that for the vast majority of our residents, there is no access to NHS dentistry.

Mike Derry, Healthwatch Richmond

Recommendations of the London Assembly Health Committee

Recomendations included:

  • The GLA sould lobby the Government to start the process of dental contract reform as a matter of urgency, setting out how the current contract is not serving Londoners.
  • Work with NHS England (London) and London’s Integrated Care Boards on a public messaging campaign to highlight the importance of visiting the dentist and to publicise the fact that dentistry is free for certain groups, particularly children.

Find out more

Statement - Roger Levy BDS Secretary, Enfield and Haringey Local Dental Committee

 

In the face of rising demand, Haringey's NHS dentists are struggling to maintain services to local residents. Our dentists are doing as much, if not more, for their community than many areas of London are managing. Even so, many NHS practices are finding it hard to survive and to recruit staff, due to the failed dental contract. Dentists trying to see more NHS patients are currently being denied more longterm funds, and are increasingly being forced to turn people away.

Orthodontic practices in particular have long waiting lists even to assess NHS patients. The government-enforced restrictions on what they are allowed to treat on the NHS are as frustrating for practices as for patients. Unfortunately this is resulting in raised levels of abuse to staff, as well as vital treatment time being lost due to abuse.

We would ask everyone to remember that their NHS dentists and staff are working harder than ever. NHS dentistry is in a state of crisis, but NHS dentists are doing their best in spite of it. If patients wish to make their unhappiness known, they should contact their local MP. Please treat your dentist and staff with courtesy. Please be patient. If you cannot keep an appointment, please give as much notice as possible. Missed appointments affect other people as well as you, and may reduce your access to dental services.

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We have been getting calls from people who are having problems finding a NHS dentist. This is a nationwide problem and Healthwatch England has raised it with the government.
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