Somerset Council has issued a cross-party appeal to the Government following the findings of a report by NHS Somerset which calls for urgent reforms to the NHS dental contract in light of the worsening access to NHS dentistry across the county.
In a letter sent to the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Council outlines the mounting challenges facing Somerset residents, including lengthy waiting times, rising costs, and a shortage of NHS dental provision. The appeal is backed by evidence gathered from Healthwatch Somerset, which surveyed over 1,100 residents and found that 71% had struggled to access NHS dental care in the past year.
The letter was written after NHS Somerset presented the findings in its Somerset Dental Recovery Workplan report at an Adults and Health Scrutiny Committee meeting, where it was resolved that the leader of the Council should, in collaboration with all political parties at the Council, advocate for meaningful reform of the dental contract by writing to the Government.
The letter is on behalf of Somerset Council Leader Cllr Bill Revans, Cllr Mandy Chilcott (Group Leader Conservative), Cllr Dave Mansell (Group Leader Green), Cllr Leigh Redman (Group Leader Labour) and Cllr John Hunt (Group Leader Independent), demonstrating a cross-party approach to this important matter.
It highlights a growing crisis disproportionately affecting low-income families, children, older people, and pregnant women — who by law are entitled to free dental care. Some residents have reportedly turned to accident and emergency services or self-medication due to the lack of accessible emergency treatment.
The Council is urging the Government to deliver meaningful reform to the NHS dental contract, first introduced in 2006, which has been criticised for disincentivising care for high-need patients and pushing dentists towards private practice.
Cllr Bill Revans, Leader of Somerset Council, said:
We are united across all parties in Somerset in calling for immediate and lasting change. Dentistry in Somerset is at breaking point, and far too many residents are being left behind—particularly the most vulnerable. We need a revised national contract that puts patients first, supports the workforce, and ensures no one is denied the care they need due to geography or income.
Despite local innovations such as supervised toothbrushing programmes in schools and targeted recruitment incentives, Somerset’s dental system continues to operate under immense strain. Workforce shortages — compounded by the impacts of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic — are making it increasingly difficult to retain and attract qualified professionals to the region.
The Council warns that without decisive national action, health inequalities will deepen, and avoidable oral health conditions will continue to place additional pressure on GP surgeries, hospitals, and already-stretched emergency services.
Somerset Council continues to support NHS Somerset’s local initiatives, but warns that without national backing, these efforts alone will not be enough to meet growing demand.
