Accessing dentistry services

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, Healthwatch Thurrock saw an increase in the number of people providing feedback on dentistry services. To establish what issues people were having and whether there were any difficulties accessing dentistry services since pandemic restrictions have eased, Healthwatch Thurrock created the survey from which this report is drawn.

The survey reflected national concerns and specifically sought to discern the effects on the local population and services being accessed. Thurrock residents were contacted via telephone and during face-to-face engagement with the community. The survey was also promoted through social media channels. In April 2022 Healthwatch Thurrock also undertook a mystery shopper exercise, contacting 17 dental practices in Thurrock to ask if they had NHS appointments available.

50% of respondents reported difficulties registering as NHS patients or accessing NHS appointments. Some respondents have been told to wait a few months, others have been told the dentist’s NHS waiting list is unlikely to open. Appointments seem to be available if people are able to go private however.

Of those surgeries that responded during the mystery shopper exercise nine said they do not have the capacity to take on NHS patients, five said that they are taking on new NHS patients but had waiting lists for appointments varying from 4-12 weeks. One practice said they are only taking on NHS patients that have been referred to them, one said that they are only able to provide NHS appointments to patients already known to them. This information was not always consistent with what was provided on the NHS website on accessing dental care.