Bolton: More than 2000 patients for every NHS dentist

This marks an of 35 per cent since 2019, one of he sharpest rises in patient to dentist numbers anywhere in the country.

Across England as a whole, fewer than half of children say a dentist last year according to data commissioned by the Liberal Democrats.

Party leader Sir Ed Davey MP said: “The staggering rise in dental deserts has left far too many people struggling to get an NHS dental appointment.”

He added: “It is heartbreaking that people are being left waiting in pain for months or even years for the dental care they need.

Experts have warned of a possible rise on dental deserts (Image: PA)

“Many are being forced to shell out thousands of pounds on private dental care, while some are even turning in desperation to DIY dentistry.”

Commons Library research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats showed that fewer than one in two children, coming to 44 per cent, saw an NHS dentist in the last year, while just one third of adults saw an NHS dentist in the past two years.

Out of 104 local areas in England, 65 including Bolton have seen the number of people per dentist rise since 2019, while nationally there are an average of 2,330 people per NHS dentist in England.

In response, Sir Ed has called for an NHS dental healthcare plan which his party says will ensure every person can access affordable dental care.

He also says he wants reforms to the NHS dental contract and is pressing for additional resources for mobile dental units to visit schools, community centres and care homes while also demanding the removal of VAT on children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Sir Ed said: “We need to see action now to make sure everyone can see a dentist on the NHS when they need to.

“That must start with investing the cash earmarked for NHS dentistry that has scandalously gone unspent, and reforming the broken system that has driven dentists away from offering NHS appointments.”

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The British Dental Association has also said that the lack of incentives and support for carrying out NHS appointments meant that hundreds of dentists were undertaking the equivalent of a single NHS check-up a year.

Chairman Eddie Crouch said: “Dental deserts are on the rise, but the true scale of the exodus from the NHS is going untracked in official data.

“The Prime Minister keeps boasting of 500 new dentists in the NHS.

“The reality is we have 500 doing a single check-up a year.

“We need a reality check from government, together with honesty, ambition and investment.”