Somerset MPs have come together to call for immediate reforms to the NHS dental contract, highlighting a crisis they describe as nothing short of “Dickensian.” Since the coronavirus pandemic, the county has been branded a “dental desert,” with many residents unable to find NHS dental care, forcing reliance on expensive private options or risky DIY solutions.
The Labour government has increased funding for NHS dentistry, leading to the opening of three new practices in Somerset and more emergency appointments. However, Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs insist that these steps are insufficient and push for faster, more comprehensive reforms to retain NHS dentists and guarantee accessible local treatment.
Yeovil MP Adam Dance highlighted the severity of the issue during a debate in the House of Commons. He shared alarming statistics: “In 2025, 56 percent of children in Somerset did not see an NHS dentist.” He recounted heartbreaking stories, including an 86-year-old who resorted to pulling out his own teeth due to unbearable pain and affordability issues. Dance added that some locals find it cheaper to fly abroad—specifically Spain—for dental treatment.
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Since his election in July 2024, Dance has secured additional NHS dental appointments in his constituency and noted that the NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) has commissioned new surgeries in Chard and Crewkerne. Despite this progress, he cautioned that funding shortages and dentist retention remain critical challenges.
“The current NHS dental contract, in place since 2006, is fundamentally flawed,” Dance said. The contract limits the number of patients dentists can treat under the NHS, disincentivizing care beyond set quotas. This system denies practices the ability to prioritize local patients, forcing residents to compete for dental care far from home.
Conservative MP Sir Ashley Fox of Bridgwater acknowledged his party’s past failings in addressing NHS dentistry but urged the government to accelerate reforms. He emphasized that access to quality NHS dental care should not be limited to urban areas but be available nationwide. “Deeper structural issues remain, and contract reform is essential,” he stated.
Liberal Democrat MPs Gideon Amos (Taunton and Wellington) and Tessa Munt (Wells and Mendip Hills) welcomed recent appointment increases but stressed the overall system’s broken nature and limited resources. Amos highlighted the financial burden on families, revealing that parents in his area have spent approximately £4 million out-of-pocket over five years due to lack of NHS access. Both called for prioritizing children in NHS dental appointments and speeding up measures to require newly qualified dentists to work in the NHS.
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock described Somerset’s dental situation as an “outlier” with significant problems. He blamed previous governments for failing to reform the contract and expand training places, resulting in a “Dickensian” crisis where DIY dentistry is becoming common, and tooth decay leads to hospital admissions among young children.
Kinnock promised urgent action and reinforced the government’s commitment to reforming the dental contract within the current parliamentary term. The focus will be on aligning resources with needs, improving access, promoting prevention, ensuring fair dentist remuneration, and leveraging the full dental team. However, he emphasized the complexity of the system requires thoughtful implementation rather than rushed changes.
The NHS Somerset ICB reported a 3% increase in NHS dental work in 2025/26 compared to the prior year. Director of Primary Care Sukeina Kassam reaffirmed that improving dental access remains a top priority. Measures already in place include enhanced payments for local dentists, better urgent appointment availability through NHS 111, and incentives to recruit dental staff.
ICB Place Director David McClay acknowledged ongoing challenges but confirmed plans to explore further actions, such as encouraging existing practices to increase NHS activity and developing proposals for new practices to meet unmet demand.
The united voices of Somerset’s MPs underline the gravity of the NHS dental crisis and the urgent need for reform to restore fair, affordable dental care access across the county.