Appointments have been targeted at so-called ‘dental deserts’.
The UK government plans to enhance NHS dentistry access by introducing 700,000 additional urgent appointments, focusing on "dental deserts" with limited access. This initiative, part of their manifesto, aims to improve dental care availability. However, dental professionals criticize the measure, stating it only adds about two extra appointments per dentist monthly, insufficient to address the significant unmet need. The British Dental Association highlights a 13 million patient backlog, urging the government to reform the NHS contract to improve access and retention of dentists.
