UK Government Announces 700,000 Extra Urgent Dental Appointments

The UK government has announced plans to create over 700,000 additional urgent NHS dental appointments across England, aimed at alleviating the severe access issues facing patients, particularly in 'dental deserts.' Health Minister Stephen Kinnock emphasized the need to address the plight of those unable to obtain urgent dental care, citing that one in four patients struggled to see a dentist in the past two years. Regions such as the East of England and London will see significant increases in available appointments, with nearly 70,000 in the East and over 52,000 in London. Despite these efforts, dental professionals warn that these measures may only scratch the surface of a deeper crisis, with many patients resorting to 'DIY dentistry' due to lack of access. The British Dental Association highlights that the total unmet need for NHS dentistry in England stands at 13 million people. Kinnock acknowledged the dire situation, stating no civilized society should tolerate such a high level of unmet dental needs.