While recent analysis of the Social Attitudes Survey has shown patient satisfaction with NHS dentistry has fallen to a record low of 20% [1], data from YouGov commissioned by the professional body is showing views of the care delivered by their dentists is sky high. [2]
85% of patients are satisfied with the dental care they have received in the last 5 years, with 38% indicating they are very satisfied. Among those who identified as seeing both an NHS or private dentist in the last 5 years, net satisfaction stood at 84%.
There are also striking levels of consistency across the UK – 85% are satisfied in England, 80% in Wales, 89% in Scotland, and 82% in Northern Ireland.
The BDA stress that responsibility for the crisis in care rests with government, and that its members are delivering the very best that they can under very difficult circumstances. The UK Government has yet to commit a penny of new investment into the rebuild of the struggling service. Unmet need for care stands at close to 14 million, or over 1 in 4 of England’s adult population [3]
BDA Chair Eddie Crouch said:
“Satisfaction with NHS dentistry is on the floor, but beneath the surface there’s a very different story.
“Satisfaction with dental care is sky high. Both private and NHS, the picture is unrelentingly positive.
“Patients agree, the problem isn’t their dentist: it’s NHS dentistry
“The public don’t have any love for broken systems, but they value the teams on the front line.
“These numbers reflect what dental teams are managing to achieve, in spite of everything.
“The crisis millions face was made in Westminster, in Holyrood, in Stormont and in Cardiff Bay. And this profession won’t carry the can for government if Ministers fail to act.”