NHS dentist shortage in north Wales: Just three practices taking new patients

Only three dental practices in north Wales are currently accepting new NHS patients, with waiting lists of up to three years, according to Plaid Cymru’s North Wales Member of the Senedd, Llyr Gruffydd.

The findings emerged from a survey conducted by Mr Gruffydd’s office, following claims from a Labour minister that 11 dental practices in the region were taking on NHS patients.

The discrepancy highlights what Mr Gruffydd described as an “accelerating decline” in NHS dental services across north Wales.

Mr Gruffydd said:

“The ongoing decline in NHS dental services across north Wales has accelerated in recent months, with practices in Llandudno, Buckley, Coedpoeth, and Ynys Môn ending their NHS contracts. They’ve made it clear that they would like to continue serving their community, but the new contracts imposed by the Welsh Government have made it increasingly difficult to deliver a good service for their patients.”

Grim Reality for Patients

Of the 55 dental practices listed on the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s website as offering NHS treatment, Mr Gruffydd’s office found only three accepting new patients – all with long waiting lists of two to three years.

He criticised the Welsh Labour Government for failing to address the crisis, saying:

“The reality is that people wanting a new NHS dentist cannot get access. They face a brutal choice: either pay hundreds of pounds a year to go on a private dental list or do without dental treatment altogether. Do you want an NHS dentist in north Wales? You’ve got more chance of winning the lottery!”

Declining NHS Contracts

The shortage of NHS dentists in north Wales is compounded by a series of practices ending their NHS contracts. Dentists in the region have cited difficulties in delivering quality care under the Welsh Government’s new contractual system.

Mr Gruffydd called for urgent reform, accusing the Labour Government of being “in denial” about the severity of the crisis:

“That’s the reality under Labour in Wales today: an NHS service that is hurling towards extinction. After 25 years of Labour decay and decline, we need a real shake-up to ensure people across the region have access to basic dental care.”

The shortage of NHS dentists is not unique to north Wales, with many regions across the UK reporting similar issues.

However, Mr Gruffydd’s findings highlight the acute nature of the problem in the region, where many patients are left with no choice but to go private or forgo dental care altogether.