Over 100,000 individuals have signed a petition hosted by Mirror, urging the Government to reverse a series of budget reductions over the past decade, enabling people to access NHS dental services once again.
The Mirror’s Dentists for All campaign has shed light on the current insufficient £3 billion funding allocated to dentistry in England, which only caters to half of the population in need of dental care. This initiative has garnered support from 112,000 signatories demanding immediate action by the Government under the slogan “Fund NHS dentistry NOW,” with the petition set to be presented to officials on Wednesday.
A concerning oral health crisis has emerged, with a quarter of adults in England, totaling 14 million individuals, lacking access to essential dental services. Government funding for dental services in Westminster falls nearly 50% below that of other regions in the UK, exacerbated by a decade of budget cuts leading individuals to resort to self-extraction of teeth.
British Dental Association Chair, Eddie Crouch, emphasized the critical need for sustainable funding to ensure widespread access to dental care, warning that failure to address funding shortages could leave millions without NHS dental services.
Efforts are underway to overhaul the flawed NHS dental payment contract, which currently results in dentists facing financial losses when treating patients requiring extensive care. The existing contract fails to differentiate between minor and significant procedures, prompting many NHS dentists to transition to private practice, consequently limiting new NHS patient admissions. However, the success of contract reform hinges on an adequate funding resolution.
The stagnant £3 billion budget allocated for NHS dentistry in England since 2010 has failed to keep pace with inflation and population growth, resulting in a substantial real-terms budget reduction of over a third, as estimated by the British Dental Association. Despite apparent increases in patient charges, government funding for dentistry has suffered a £20 million cut under the Tory administration, even before accounting for inflation.
Matthew McGregor, CEO of campaigning group 38 Degrees, in partnership with Mirror, highlighted the significant public support for proper NHS dental funding, stressing the urgent need for financial backing to ensure accessible and affordable dental care for millions across the UK. The upcoming Autumn Budget presents a critical opportunity for transformative change in this regard.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is slated to unveil the Autumn Budget on November 26, determining future allocations for government departments. The Dentists for All campaign, initiated by Mirror in January 2024, seeks fundamental reforms to the dental contract and increased funding to guarantee universal access to NHS dental services. The campaign has garnered substantial public support through petitions, underscoring the pressing need for adequate funding to enhance the NHS dental system.