FoI reveals NHS dentist waiting times

Majority of those on the list face six-month wait

The majority of people wanting to register to see an NHS dentist have been waiting for at least six months.

That's according to figures released via a freedom of information request, which shows more than 1,500 people were on the waiting list in September.

Of those, 59 percent have waited between six months and a year, 40 per cent have waited less than six months, and one percent have waited longer than a year.

It comes as almost 50% of patients were added to the list when dentists closed in March due to Covid-19.

Practices opened again in July, with many still catching up on appointments which were cancelled during lockdown.

The health department says there are a variety of reasons why patients waiting the longest haven't been given a place, including some not accepting an allocation.

Some patients also ask to go to certain practices, which can delay the process.