Dentistry Supplementary Report (part 2) - Mystery Shopper Exercise responses

To understand local concerns about access to NHS dentistry, Healthwatch Redbridge conducted a mystery shopping exercise to understand what might happen when a patient rings a dentist wanting an urgent appointment. They contacted 39 NHS dental practices in the borough, managing to speak to 31 (79%) of those practices.

• None of the 31 practices contacted could offer an urgent appointment to someone who was not considered to be a patient at the practice already.
• Additionally, over 50% of those practices confirmed they were not taking on any new NHS patients while 6 practices said they expected to begin taking new NHS patients again soon.
• The majority of practices, 56%, signposted their staff and volunteers to NHS 111.
• Less than half of practices, 42% could offer a private appointment. One practice offered a private appointment on the same day.
• The cost of an initial appointment ranged from £30 to £100, with nine practices offering an initial appointment for £50 or less and the remaining four for more than this.
• Only two practices specified how much follow up treatment would be, clarifying it would cost £90.

This report is one of the supplementary reports published by Healthwatch Redbridge. To read the primary report, click here.