PRACTICES NOT TAKING ADULTS OR CHILDREN, FIGURES REVEAL

IT is still just as difficult to register at an NHS dentist in Surrey as it was six months ago, despite Labour's promise to "rebuild" NHS dentistry.

- By ANNIE GOUK

Updated analysis of the 168 practices in the county on the NHS's Find a Dentist website has revealed 137, or 82%, are still not currently accepting adults aged 18 or over. In one constituency, Godalming and Ash, not a single NHS dentist is accepting new adult patients.

The situation remains exactly the same as in November, when we last crunched the numbers. And it is not just adults who are affected - 70% of NHS dentists in Surrey are still not accepting children aged 17 or under.

In reality, many of those that say they are accepting patients “when availability allows” may not be, or may have years-long waiting lists.