NHS Gloucestershire has continued its drive to improve access to NHS dentistry, and we are pleased to report that we have secured additional urgent dental appointments and will be updating on plans for a new Dental Access Centre in Gloucester in early January.

In line with the Government pledge to roll out extra urgent dental appointments, we are continuing to increase the number of appointments available at clinics across the county each week, including on weeknights and at weekends. There are currently 140 urgent care appointments available on average each week, and we are aiming to increase this number into next year.

Patients can access these urgent appointments by contacting NHS 111. They will then be triaged by dental nurses in the local urgent dental care triage team. Appointments can be accessed by people from any part of the county.

We also commission over 360 appointments on average each week across the county to support patients who have had an urgent dental appointment and require further treatment, but do not have a dentist.

These appointments (stabilisation appointments) may include a full-examination and follow-up dental treatment to support someone’s oral health to help ensure they do not need another urgent dental appointment soon. Patients will be referred following their urgent dental appointment if they need this.

We are also working closely with local dentists, with help from patient representatives, to increase the number of NHS dental places for local people, including children.

Working with Gloucestershire County Council, we are developing plans for a new Dental Access Centre at Quayside House in Gloucester City.

The Centre will provide daytime, evening and weekend urgent care appointments for patients alongside appointments to stabilise dental health with follow-up appointments where needed. The urgent appointments will be accessible via NHS 111.

The Centre will also be expected to apply to be a Dental Foundation training practice, meaning it will provide mentorship and support to a newly qualified dentist working there.

Subject to successful contract negotiations and building works, it is anticipated that this Centre will be up and running by summer 2026. We will be providing a public update on this in early January.

Working with the County Council (GCC), we are also making progress in improving children’s oral health through two initiatives led by Public Health.

First Dental Steps offers parents oral health advice and toothbrushing resources at the baby’s 9- and 12-month reviews whilst the Supervised Toothbrushing Programme has so far seen over 6,500 children in Nursery and Reception classes brushing their teeth under supervision twice a day during school time. Over the next two years, this will expand to include Year One children in the county’s lowest income areas and children in special educational need schools.

In partnership with GCC Public Health, next spring, we plan to introduce an Oral Health Workforce Training Programme to equip professionals working in health, community and social care with skills, knowledge and confidence to support those at greatest risk of poor oral health.

NHS Gloucestershire has also led a successful initiative to improve waiting times for patients referred for an intermediate minor oral surgery procedure (such as extraction of a difficult wisdom tooth). A new primary care provider was successfully commissioned this year to treat patients who had been waiting the longest for treatment, leading to a drastic reduction in waiting times from around 40 weeks to under 4 weeks.

We will keep you up to date in the months ahead as our plans progress.