Dental mystery shopping report, Newham
Download (PDF 194.71 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Newham had feedback about the difficulty of accessing NHS appointments and undertook Mystery Shopping in January and August to investigate this.
They were concerned to see that
• 65% of practices could not offer a routine NHS appointment for children or adults within two weeks in Jan 2017. In Aug 2017
• 29% of practices were not accepting new NHS patients
• 62% of practices could not offer a routine child’s appointment within two weeks
• 54% of practices could not offer a routine adult’s appointment within two weeks.
The report was sent to the commissioners of the service, NHS England. A new dental contract will be established in 2018-19.
January 2017 – 33 dental practices were on the NHS list. 2 were excluded as 1 provided orthodontic service and 1 provided a service to special needs only. 65% (17 practices) could not offer a routine child’s appointment within 2 weeks. 35% (9 practices) could not offer a routine adult’s appointment within 2 weeks.
August 2017 – the exercise was repeated – with a list of 29 dental practices. Results were 29% were not accepting new NHS appointments. 62% (15 practices) could not offer a routine adults’ appointment within 2 weeks. 54% (13 practices) could not offer a child’s routine appointment within 2 weeks.