As dentists gather in Birmingham for their national conference, new polling is offering a vote of confidence from the public in the profession.
While recent data has shown patient satisfaction with NHS dentistry has fallen to a record low of 20%, data we have commission from YouGov is showing views of the care delivered by their dentists is sky high.
85% of patients are satisfied with the dental care they have received in the last five years, with 38% indicating they are very satisfied. Among those who identified as seeing either an NHS or private dentist in the last five years, net satisfaction stood at 84%.
What this shows is the responsibility for the crisis in care rests with government. Our members are delivering the very best that they can, often under very difficult circumstances. The UK Government has yet to commit a penny of new investment into the rebuild of the struggling service, even though unmet need for care stands at close to 14 million, or over one in four of England’s adult population.
“Satisfaction with NHS dentistry is on the floor, but beneath the surface there’s a very different story,” says BDA Chair Eddie Crouch.
“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.”
What is also very striking is the levels of consistency across the UK – 85% are satisfied in England, 80% in Wales, 89% in Scotland, and 82% in Northern Ireland. We have been shining a light on the problems millions face during recent devolved elections, and are pushing for real commitments from governments old and new.
“The crisis millions face was made in Westminster, in Holyrood, in Stormont and in Cardiff Bay,” added Eddie. “And this profession won’t carry the can for government if Ministers fail to act.”