How easy is it to access NHS dentistry in Birmingham and Solihull?

Healthwatch Birmingham and Healthwatch Solihull undertook research on access to dentistry as they have seen an increase in calls from the public about this issue. Between February and March 2022, 321 Birmingham residents and 88 Solihull residents who had accessed or tried to access dental services in Birmingham and Solihull completed the questionnaire and 476 people responded to a poll question on social media.

Key issues that the research highlighted:

• The difficulties finding a dentist taking on NHS patients and offering NHS treatments including urgent and emergency dental care.
• Concerns that NHS dentists are orientated towards private care with people being offered private treatment when seeking NHS dental care.
• Incorrect information or lack of clarity around which dental practices are delivering NHS care.
• The cost of treatment, both NHS and private, leading people to not seek treatment or reduce the frequency of visits or treatments.
• Difficulties finding an NHS dentist for those who move into the local area.
• Long waiting times for treatment, even for regular attendees, leaving people in pain or having to use NHS 111, go private or visit A & E to get treatment.
• Removal from a dental practice’s list of NHS patients during lockdown for non-attendance alongside failure to communicate this until people try to book an appointment.
• Limited awareness of dental practices offering services to people with disabilities or complex needs.
• Lack of access to staff with the skills and knowledge to treat people with a disability, complex needs, and dental phobia

The report contains 12 recommendations about access to dentistry.