Non-attenders cost Hampshire dentists [pound]1 million : Article : British Dental Journal

British Dental Journal 204, 483 (2008)
Published online: 10 May 2008 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2008.380

Non-attenders cost Hampshire dentists £1 million

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Patients in Hampshire are missing more than 2,000 appointments a month and have cost dentists £1 million in lost income since April 2006, according to a survey by Hampshire Primary Care Trust (PCT).

'We have invested in NHS dentistry in the last two years because we know local people want better access to NHS dentistry,' said Natalie Jones, lead contracting manager for primary care dental services.

'This waste of appointments prevents thousands of patients from seeing an NHS dentist. We are urging patients to make sure they attend their appointment.'

A survey of dentists providing NHS services found 56,000 appointments had been missed since April 2006. 'This is the equivalent of over eight full time dentists who could have provided much needed NHS dental services,' according to a statement from the PCT.

Missed appointments meant many dentists could not provide all the services they agreed to deliver. 'Over the last two years this has cost NHS dentists in Hampshire over £1 million and could lead to dentists choosing to become private practices instead,' the PCT warned.