A major investigation by the BBC has uncovered that desperate patients, including pregnant women and the elderly, were told they must pay for a private hygienist appointment if they wanted to register for NHS dental care at a practice in Bristol.
The Open Day Ultimatum
On 6 September, the Lodge Causeway Dental Centre in Fishponds, east Bristol, held an open day that attracted thousands of people seeking an NHS dentist. Many had not seen a dentist in years and queued for hours from before the 8am opening. However, upon reaching the front of the line, they were presented with what they described as an 'ultimatum': pay £69 for a hygienist appointment or forfeit the chance to register.
Alice Worthington, from south Bristol, told the BBC she 'didn't actually need a hygienist appointment at all', but felt compelled to pay because it is 'impossible to find an NHS dentist'. She reported that there was no mention of the fee during the three-hour wait. Another prospective patient, Sam Mellor from Bedminster, was given the same condition, with the option to pay at a later date.
Contradictions and Apology
National Health Service guidelines explicitly state that a healthcare provider cannot refuse an NHS patient if they decline to pay for a private service. The dental centre, however, maintains the appointments were merely 'offered' alongside a check-up. In a response seen by the BBC, the practice called the hygienist appointment 'just an offer'.
Following the investigation, the practice apologised 'unreservedly' for taking advance payments and has encouraged affected patients to make contact. A spokesperson for the NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board clarified that while NHS dentists can offer hygienist appointments, patients 'should not be obliged to pay for an appointment at the time of registering.'
Scale of the Crisis and Reaction
The incident highlights the severe pressure on NHS dentistry. The British Dental Association (BDA) chair, Eddie Crouch, said the situation for the estimated 14 million people struggling to access care was being exacerbated by such practices. 'If prospective patients are being told they have to have a private hygienist appointment before having some NHS dental treatment, then I don't think that's correct,' he stated.
Since the open day, the Lodge Causeway practice revealed it has registered 2,591 new NHS patients and offered 108 hygienist appointments. It has hired three more dentists to cope with demand and estimates it could take on up to 3,000 new patients. The systems were reportedly set up to automatically take payment in advance for these appointments.
The revelations have sparked outrage and raised serious questions about patient access and the adherence to NHS contracting rules, as the national dental care crisis continues to leave millions without essential treatment.
