Oral Health Foundation Rails Against NHS Charges
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- Published: Monday, 07 April 2025 08:42
- Written by Guy Tuggle
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Independent charity the Oral Health Foundation has launched a stinging attack on the latest increase in NHS dental charges which took effect at the beginning of the month.
In a statement headed ’Higher Costs, Same Broken System’ the charity dismisses the increases as an ’unjustified burden on patients who are already struggling to access essential care’.
It says the rise in fees does nothing to fix the deep-rooted crisis in NHS dentistry and ’will only serve to push more people away from seeking the treatment they need.’
Increases in NHS dental charges always attract criticism and condemnation. Some will have hoped that the election of a Labour government in 2024 might have seen a tilt away from automatic increases by a political party perceived to be more ’on the side’ of financially hard pressed communities and pro-NHS for all.
In government, and faced with the harsh reality of footing the bills, Labour’s policy on NHS dental charges has to date been one of continuity. In common with the British Dental Association, the OHF is once more accusing the government of making patients pay more so that ministers can pay (invest) less.
Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, said: “This is yet another tax on those who need essential healthcare. At a time when millions are unable to get an NHS dental appointment, the government has decided that patients should pay even more for a service they can barely access. This will price even more people out of NHS dentistry and push them towards DIY dentistry, increasing inequality and leaving the most vulnerable in pain."
And the charity, whose raison d’etre is to promote oral health, worries that with each increase in charges, additional patients will suffer direct health consequences. "Making treatment more expensive will only push more people away from seeking help, leading to worsening oral health and greater long-term costs for the NHS.
The Oral Health Foundation is calling on the government to take immediate action to fix NHS dentistry. "That means an end to price hikes and the introduction of a new, fairer contract that ensures access to NHS dental care for everyone who needs it" said Dr Carter.
"While NHS dental charges have risen by an average of 46%, the UK’s inflation rate has only increased by approximately 25% over the same period. This disparity highlights how the cost of NHS dentistry has outpaced inflation, making it increasingly unaffordable for many patients and putting further strain on access to care" Dr Carter’s statement concluded.
The government is acutely aware of the need to reform the dental contract and has announced measures to fund additional appointments, albeit by redeploying existing funds. Given the current and unprecedented pressure on public finances, anyone hoping for a cessation of the annual increases in NHS dental charges is courting severe disappointment.
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