Dentists Set to Leave NHS

8.23.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 30th Jul 2008

The Dental Practitioners' Association have published the results of a survey which reveals that 1 in 4 dentists nationally are considering leaving the NHS over the next year. Liberal Democrats in Norfolk say that this national survey reinforces the concerns of local dentists.

At the beginning of 2008, Norfolk Lib Dems published a report into the views of the County's dentists which revealed:

• Only one-in-ten dentists feel that preventative care is encouraged in the current system.

• Morale is rock bottom, with only 2% of dentists confident about the future of NHS dentistry.

• Two out of three dentists would consider leaving the NHS.

• Nearly two-thirds of dentists said that waiting times for orthodontic work is 3 years or more.

Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, said:

"This latest report from the Dentists' Association reinforces our local findings. There is undoubtedly a developing crisis in NHS dentistry. Government reforms, including the introduction of new dental contracts, have been a complete failure. The warning signs have been there for some time."

"Since the new dental contracts were introduced, there are now 2 million fewer people with access to an NHS dentist. Surveys of dentists reinforce concerns that access to a dentist could become even harder unless urgent action is taken by the Government to improve morale within the profession."

"This report reveals a shockingly high number of dentists who are talking about leaving the NHS altogether within a short period of time."

The Dental Practitioners' Association Survey can be found at: http://www.uk-dentistry.org/releases/NR-20080731_contract_survey.pdf