NHS Dentists

Summary

The request sought the number of people on the NHS dental waiting list and average wait times in the Isle of Man. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that 1,540 patients were waiting as of September 2020, with 59% waiting between 6 months and a year, largely due to COVID-19 practice closures.

Key Facts

• As of 17 September 2020, there were 1,540 patients on the NHS Dental Waiting List.
• 59% of patients had waited between 6 months and 1 year.
• Almost 50% of patients were added to the list following dental practice closures in March 2020 due to COVID-19.
• Primary Care Services instructed providers to cease holding their own waiting lists on 30 September 2019 to ensure fair allocation.
• Negotiations with NHS Dental Providers regarding contractual arrangements and access were planned to clear the waiting list.

Data Disclosed

• 1,540
• 40%
• 59%
• 1%
• 50%
• 17th September 2020
• 23rd September 2020
• March 2020
• July 2020
• 30th September 2019
• 1478505

Original Request

Please advise how many people are currently on the waiting list to register with an NHS dentist and also the average length of time spent waiting. Thank you.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Interim Chief Executive: Kathryn Magson Freedom of Information Team Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3QA

Tel: (01624) 642621 Email: dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc Our ref: 1478505 23rd September 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 17th September 2020 and states:

"Please advise how many people are currently on the waiting list to register with an NHS dentist and also the average length of time spent waiting.”

Our response: As of the 17th September 2020 there are 1,540 patients on the NHS Dental Waiting List. • 40% of patients have waited less than 6 months • 59% of patients have waited between 6 months and 1 year • 1% of patients have waited longer than 1 year Almost 50% of patients have been added to the waiting list following the closure of dental practices in March 2020 due to COVID-19 and practices, having re-opened fully from July 2020 onwards, are still catching up on appointments for the patients who had their appointments cancelled during the closure period. There are a variety of reasons that patients waiting the longest have not yet been allocated, these include those who were previously offered a place and for whatever reason did not accept the allocation. Patients also do have an option to specify which dental practice(s) they wish to be allocated to and also which practice(s) they would not wish to be allocated to. This can delay allocations if those practices requested are unable to take on new patients.
On the 30th September 2019, Primary Care Services wrote to all NHS Dental Providers to ask them to cease holding their own practice waiting lists for NHS patients and forward their lists onto Primary Care Services. This was so patients could be allocated fairly with regard to the length of time they were waiting for allocation and to ensure the Department of Health and Social Care had the correct information with regard to patients waiting for an NHS placement. The table below shows the number of patients, broken down into the month/year they were added to the waiting list. The

data demonstrates Primary Care Services having received practice waiting lists with the rise in patients being added to the list after this time. Month Number Month Number Month Number Month Number Apr-19 2 Oct-19 69 Feb-20 231 Jun-20 78 Jul-19 6 Nov-19 71 Mar-20 141 Jul-20 168 Aug-19 6 Dec-19 190 Apr-20 16 Aug-20 173 Sep-19 1 Jan-20 214 May-20 38 Sep-20 136 Total 1540 To provide advice and assistance in the form of additional information, Primary Care Services are due to commence negotiations with NHS Dental Providers with regard to their contractual arrangements. One of the key elements within discussions will be with regard to access to NHS services with a view to allocating the waiting list in its entirety and improving access in the future.

Please quote the reference number 1478505 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely