Relief as plan which would have left thousands without NHS dentist is scrapped

NHS England has now agreed to extend the Access to General Dental Services funding, which was due to dry up at the end of March.

It follows a campaign by Wentworth & Dearne MP John Healey (pictured), who warned the funding coming to an end would leave almost 5,000 people in his constituency alone at risk of being left without a dentist and leave dental practices with “no choice” but to cut staff.

After speaking to dentists, he had a meeting with NHS England’s head of co-commissioning and has now received confirmation that the funding has been extended for six months.

NHS England said they would review the scheme and involve dentists to come up with a longer-term plan.

The money was first awarded in 2018 because the area had fewer people seeing a dentist and a higher than average level of deprivation.

Mr Healey said: “This special scheme has meant nearly 5,000 patients in my constituency with no dentist have been able to get dental check-ups and treatment over the last three years.

“It has been invaluable and its continuation is essential.

“Losing this funding would be a huge blow to people in our area and to our NHS, and I’m pleased NHS England is listening to me and to local dentists.

 “Now we will work hard to secure the funding we need permanently.

“This scheme confirmed there is high demand for NHS dentists in our area, with practices taking on more new patients than expected.”