NHS Dental Waiting List Allocations & Patient Preferences

Summary

Manx Care responded to a Freedom of Information request regarding NHS dental waiting list statistics and patient preference recording for the period between May 2025 and January 2026. The authority disclosed full data on waiting list size, allocation numbers, and confirmed that patient preferences are recorded and auditable.

Key Facts

• As of 12 January 2026, there were 1,397 patients remaining on the NHS dental waiting list.
• A total of 6,469 patients were allocated to an NHS dental provider between 1 May 2025 and January 2026.
• Of the accepted allocations, 231 patients were offered their preferred dental practice, while 4,490 were allocated within their preferred geographical area.
• Patient preferences are recorded via a drop-down menu for location and specific practice requests, with an option for free text notes.
• Manx Care confirmed that an audit trail exists linking a patient's stated preference to their eventual allocation.

Data Disclosed

• 1,397
• 6,469
• 231
• 4,490
• 1,748
• 1 May 2025
• 12 January 2026
• 4 February 2026
• 5223621

Original Request

Please provide the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2015. For the period 1 May 2025 to 12 January 2026 (or the latest data held within this range): Waiting list size Total number of patients remaining on the NHS dental waiting list as at the most recent date available within this period. Allocations Total number of patients allocated an NHS dental place from the dental waiting list. Of those patients, how many were: a) Allocated to their stated preferred dental practice b) Allocated within their stated preferred geographical area Patient preference data Is patient preference for dental practice and/or area recorded when joining the dental waiting list? If yes, how is this preference recorded (e.g., free text, coded field, manual record)? Is this preference data held in a format that allows extraction or analysis? Allocation records Is the dental practice to which a patient is allocated recorded at the point their details are forwarded to a provider? Is there an audit trail that links a patient's stated preference to their eventual allocation? Information not held If any of the above information is not held, please specify: a) Which information is not held b) Why it is not held Responsibility Please confirm whether responsibility for holding this information rests with Manx Care, DHSC, or both. If any information is withheld, please cite the specific exemption relied upon.

Data Tables (9)

Full Response Text

Manx Care Noble’s Hospital, Strang Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4R (01624) 650 000

Our ref: 5223621 4 February 2026

Dear

We write further to your request, received 12 January 2026, which states:

"Please provide the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2015. For the period 1 May 2025 to 12 January 2026 (or the latest data held within this range):

Waiting list size Total number of patients remaining on the NHS dental waiting list as at the most recent date available within this period.

Allocations Total number of patients allocated an NHS dental place from the dental waiting list.

Of those patients, how many were: a) Allocated to their stated preferred dental practice b) Allocated within their stated preferred geographical area c) Allocated outside any stated preference

Patient preference data Is patient preference for dental practice and/or area recorded when joining the dental waiting list? If yes, how is this preference recorded (e.g., free text, coded field, manual record)? Is this preference data held in a format that allows extraction or analysis?

Allocation records Is the dental practice to which a patient is allocated recorded at the point their details are forwarded to a provider? Is there an audit trail that links a patient's stated preference to their eventual allocation?

Information not held If any of the above information is not held, please specify: a) Which information is not held b) Why it is not held

Responsibility Please confirm whether responsibility for holding this information rests with Manx Care,

DHSC, or both.

If any information is withheld, please cite the specific exemption relied upon."

Response

Waiting List Size The total number of patients remaining on the NHS dental waiting list as at the most recent date (12th January 2026) was: • 1,397 patients Allocations The total number of patients allocated to an NHS dental provider from the dental waiting list between 1 May 2025 and January 2026 is: • 6,469 patients The NHS dental practices are still working through the patients that have been allocated to them and this data can vary daily, however in terms of preferred dental practice and geographical area this time period, the accepted allocation numbers are as follows: a) Allocation to stated preferred dental practice • Of those that have accepted their allocation between the requested period, 231 patients were offered allocation to their preferred dental practice. b) Allocation within stated preferred geographical area • Of those that have accepted their allocation between the requested period, 4,490 patients were allocated within their preferred geographical area. c) Allocated outside any stated preference • 1,748 Patient Preference Data Patient preference for dental practice and/or geographical area at the point of joining the dental waiting list is recorded. • The waiting list records preferred location on the island via drop down menu option (North, South, East, West, or Anywhere), and whether a specific dental practice has been requested. We can also add free text notes to advise if a patient does not wish to be allocated to a particular practice/ location. • This preference data can be extracted for analysis. Allocation Records • The dental practice to which a patient is allocated at the point their details are forwarded to a provider is recorded. • An audit trail linking a patient’s stated preference to their eventual allocation exists.

Responsibility for Information Responsibility for holding the information on the dental waiting list requested rests with: • Manx Care

Please quote the reference number 5223621 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely