Decay and Delay: The State of Dentistry and Oral Health in London
The London Assembly Health Committee's latest report sheds light on the state of dentistry across the city. We'll outline the key findings and recommendations discussed in the report. Whether you’re a patient, a healthcare provider, or simply interested in the health of the city, this report offers valuable insights into the current dental landscape.
The recent report from the London Assembly Health Committee drew heavily on feedback shared by a number of local Healthwatch.
Mike Derry, Chief Officer of Healthwatch Richmond, told the Committee that “the reality is that for the vast majority of our residents, there is no access to NHS dentistry”, explaining that Richmond seems to be “the area with the least amount of [NHS] dentistry by quite a considerable margin across London.”
He said that finding a dentist “might include calling 20, 25 and quite often in excess of that number of dentists to identify one who can see them.”
He also explained that, even for those dental surgeries that claimed to be accepting new NHS patients on their website, there could be a considerable wait for appointments. Healthwatch Lambeth and Healthwatch Islington raised similar concerns about residents struggling to access NHS dentistry.
Healthwatch Islington stated that “patients contact our advice and information service because they are unsure whether they are entitled to free dental care”, which acts as “a deterrent to people on low incomes”.
The report found that:
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One quarter (25.8 per cent) of 5-year-olds in London experienced tooth decay in 2021-22 – which is higher than the English average of 23.7 per cent.
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More than 5,000 children aged 0 to 9 in London were admitted to hospital for tooth extractions in 2022-23. 47.1 per cent of children in London did not access an NHS dentist between March 2023 and March 2024.
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In the two years to March 2024, just 39 per cent of adults accessed an NHS dentist in London, while just 53 per cent of children accessed an NHS dentist in the previous year.
The committee recommends that the Mayor of London should:
- Lobby the Government to start the process of dental contract reform as a matter of urgency, setting out how the current contract is not serving Londoners, with the aim of reforming the contract by the end of 2025.
- Work with NHS England (London) and London’s ICBs on a public messaging campaign to highlight the importance of visiting the dentist and to publicise the fact that dentistry is free for certain groups, particularly children.
- Use his soft power to play a convening role in bringing the five London ICBs together to address the inequalities and under provision of NHS dentistry across the capital.
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