The Truth the BBC Missed: Why Tameside’s NHS Dentistry is Really in Crisis
If you’ve turned on the news lately, you’ve probably seen headlines about the NHS dental crisis. The BBC and regulators highlight a £900 million “clawback” and suggest dentists are choosing private work over NHS patients.
At Kingswater Dental Practice, we’ve reviewed real data — bank statements, payroll, and clinical logs. The issue isn’t “greedy dentists.” It’s a broken system.
Why is there a £900m “clawback”?
Q: Are dentists refusing NHS patients?
A: No. A major issue is missed appointments (FTA – Failed to Attend).
In just 6 months, we recorded 103 missed NHS appointments, equating to 53.4 hours of lost clinical time.
Q: Can’t you fill those slots?
A: No. The NHS UDA system is too rigid. Lost time cannot be recovered, and practices are penalised financially.
The Real Cost of Running a Practice
Before paying staff, fixed overheads reach £3,459 per month.
On top of that, employer National Insurance rose by £314/month, adding nearly £3,770/year.
Small practices are taxed like large corporate chains — with no support tiering.
The Tameside Blockade
Q: If practices close, doesn’t funding shift?
A: It should — but it doesn’t.
When local practices closed, we applied to take on more NHS patients.
The Solution: Capitation
The current system rewards volume, not prevention. A capitation model would change that.
- Focus on Prevention: Keep patients healthy, not just treat problems
- Financial Stability: No clawback penalties
- Better Access: Manage patient lists effectively
What You Can Do
- Attend appointments or cancel early
- Focus on prevention
- Support local practices
