16/06/2026
Your experiences help us to highlight important issues such as these. Although some additional provisions have been made locally, NHS Dentistry is still difficult to access for many and the consequences can be devastating. Local Healthwatch all over the country help inform Healthwatch England who can than challenge government and service providers on a national level. We are independent of services and anonymise your experience so you can tell us your experience and know that you won't be treated differently by services. We want to hear your voice so we can help infleunce change - we work for you. https://www.healthwatchsomerset.co.uk/have-your-say
"We hear some of the most heartbreaking cases of people having to choose between heating their homes, feeding their kids and fixing really painful dental issues," - William Pett, our director of policy and public affairs, told BBC Breakfast this morning.
As people continue to face difficulties accessing NHS dental appointments, more and more are turning to private care.
And that's only an option for those who can afford it. Many cannot, and are left living in pain or, in the most extreme cases, resort to treating their own teeth.
These stories are a stark reminder that we urgently need fundamental reform of the NHS dental contract.
That reform must involve the public. Ultimately, we need an honest conversation about what kind of NHS dental system we want and whether we are willing to pay for it, because the current system is simply not working for patients.
You can watch the full interview from 8:15am: https://bbc.in/4464RGg
