NHS Dentists Disappearing in Dorset

West Dorset Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Edward Morello is calling for urgent action over a lack of access to NHS dentists in Dorset. 

The NHS’s own data shows that just 37% of Dorset’s residents have been able to get an appointment. This is not a surprise given that no practice in Dorset is currently accepting new NHS patients at the time of writing.

The situation is also stark when it comes to Dorset's children. NHS guidance says that everyone under the age of 18 should see a dentist at least once a year. However, in Dorset in the two years to June 2022, less than half of under-18s managed to get an NHS appointment. The lack of available access to NHS dentists has started to show. A poll by Savanta ComRes in 2022 found that 1 in 5 people who can’t access care have resorted to DIY dentistry.

Edward Morello commented: “As the cost of living continues to grow, people across West Dorset shouldn’t have to, and can’t afford to access expensive private care. The Lib Dems would improve access to NHS dentistry across West Dorset. The Conservatives have ground down NHS dentistry, and ordinary people are paying the price. The Liberal Democrats demand better for West Dorset.”

The Liberal Democrats have a wide-ranging number of policies to tackle this crisis. The party would reform the NHS dental services contract, which would encourage practices to take on new NHS patients, and ensure that the main priority of NHS dentists are their patients, not arbitrary targets. The party would also increase the number of dentist training places, and continue to recognise dental qualifications from EU countries. 

Under Lib Dem policy, there would also be a big focus on the dental health of children, pregant women and new mothers. We would launch an emergency scheme to ensure these groups have access to free, timely care. We would also teach children how to brush their teeth properly, with supervised brushing training in schools and nurseries. Finally, we would also remove VAT from children's toothbrushes and toothpaste, giving the next generation the tools to look after their smiles for years to come.

Edward Morello continued: "This Lib Dem Plan would go a long way to reducing the current NHS dentistry crisis. The Conservatives have been asleep at the wheel for too long on this issue, but the Liberal Democrats have a thought-out, costed plan. I would urge anyone worried about the state of NHS dentistry in our area to put their trust in the Lib Dems."

West Dorset Liberal Democrats are running a petition on this issue, calling on the Government to get a grip on this dentistry crisis.