How easy is it to find an NHS dentist? It depends where you live
A Nuffield Trust analysis reveals that nearly 600 dental practices in England have stopped offering NHS services over the last decade. This decline has created 'dental deserts,' making it increasingly difficult for patients to access affordable dental care.
Why it matters
The shift toward a two-tier dental system highlights growing healthcare inequality and the potential failure of current NHS dental contract models.
Image source, Getty Images By Chloe Hayward Published 5 minutes ago Hundreds of dentist practices are abandoning NHS work as the service drifts towards a two-tier system, new analysis suggests.
Data analysed by the Nuffield Trust found that nearly 600 practices in England have withdrawn from NHS dentistry over the last 10 years. The decline has been particularly sharp in parts of the South West and East of England, raising concerns about growing inequalities in access to care.
The analysis suggests more than one in 10 dental practices that once offered NHS care no longer do so, leaving it near impossible for some communities to find NHS appointments.
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