Swindon is one of the worst areas in the UK for NHS dentists taking on new patients, figures suggest. Research by health and wellness experts UNTIL found that the town ranked fourth nationally as they calculated that residents only had an 18 per cent chance of being accepted by an NHS dentist, with only nine practices out of 50 in an area with a population of 185,609 people taking these on. This result tied Swindon with Cheltenham, Northampton, and Plymouth, but placed it above Norwich – which had eight practices out of 50 taking on NHS patients, a 16 per cent chance of being accepted – and Bristol – only seven practices, a 14 per cent chance of being accepted.
One patient, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Adver: "I have to go to Marlborough to see a dentist - and have only been able to start doing that this year. "I've lived in Swindon for three years, but there were no NHS spaces available and I couldn't afford private care, so for a long time, I did not have any check-ups or awareness of the health of my mouth. "I could get a GP fairly quickly but finding a dentist was much harder.
I feel grateful to have one, even if it's a 40-minute drive away." Birmingham ranked the best for residents looking to be accepted into a new dentist, with up to 68 per cent availability. A YouGov survey reported that more than a third of respondents could not find an NHS dentist in their area to take them on, with seven per cent even attempting DIY dentistry at home.
Another Swind.
