'There could be no NHS dentists in two years'

A dentist says he feels "strangled" by NHS contracts and believes NHS dentists may not exist in two years' time.

Dr Harj Singhrao, who has a practice in Newbridge, Caerphilly, said money was allocated on a "one size fits all basis" meaning in high need areas like his, he had to lose money in order to provide good care.

It comes as the British Dental Association (BDA) Cymru published an open letter accusing the Welsh government of "peddling half- truths", adding more practices were looking to hand NHS contracts back.

The Welsh government said: "We are working to ensure the NHS dental contract is fairer for patients and to the dental profession."

Dentists who want to treat NHS patients sign a contract with the Welsh government, which then gives them money per patient under the condition of certain targets, such as seeing a certain number of new patients.

If these targets are not met, dentists may have to pay some money back as a penalty.

Dr Singhrao is the principal dentist at Newbridge Dental Care and had to pay £50,000 back to the Welsh government.

He said this was because he took on too many new NHS patients, but had to close a position at his practice as a result.

He said the formula of treating every patient across Wales equally "does not work".

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Source: BBC News, 17 February 2025