It really isn’t, Simon! All that’s needed - and what still feels missing - is the political will to see this through. @thebda.bsky.social

Thanks @markjsewards.bsky.social We have huge unmet need for NHS dental care. And practices delivering it at a loss. This isn’t about throwing money at the problem. It’s about delivering sustainable and needed investment. @thebda.bsky.social

There's no costs attached here. No fiscal rules to break. This is just simple failure to deliver. And the result is children struggling to eat, to sleep and to learn.

Thanks from all of us @thebda.bsky.social Adam. It’s clear government is distracted. And there’s only so long struggling NHS practices can wait, before they cease to be NHS practices.

"Without dental practices doing private dentistry many would not be able to carry on providing NHS work," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social No health professional can be expected to lose money delivering NHS care. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czrx7pvx57eo

Real pleasure to @samrushworthmp.bsky.social in Parliament. We couldn’t agree more about the need for investment and more urgency in tackling the dental access crisis. With 14m people in England unable to access an NHS dentist, this issue can’t be kicked into the long grass. @thebda.bsky.social

Nice to speak to @charlotte-cane-mp.bsky.social MP today. Thank you for your support as we call for sustainable funding NHS dentistry, and urgent reform of the dysfunctional contract driving the ongoing access crisis. @theBDA

“We shouldn’t be forced to play a zero-sum game for theatre space," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social https://www.hsj.co.uk/patient-safety/vulnerable-children-denied-surgery-as-cancer-patients-prioritised/7041857.article

 “No one in the 21st century should struggle to access basic dental care or, even worse, forced to take matters into their own hands,” says Minister @skinnock.bsky.social A worthy sentiment, but this policy alone really can’t deliver that level of change. We need ambition & investment.

Heart-breaking. The human cost of political choices made in Westminster. The PM once said "we will get NHS dentistry back on its feet." With another reset planned, he can make sure we finally get the reform and resources to end these horrors.

“The fundamental problem isn’t the number of dentists we have," warns @eddiecrouch.bsky.social "It’s the fact they increasingly can’t see a future in a failed, underfunded system." https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/nhs-dentist-appointment-treatment-uk-37130046.amp

We promised to spell out the facts on private dentistry. With your support we will continue to do so.

That’s most kind thank you

Thank you for our constructive discussion @sarahbool.bsky.social MP about how to ensure we keep dental practices in the NHS, and the impact of poor oral health on the outcomes of patients with diabetes and other conditions. @thebda.bsky.social

Nice to catch up with Dr @peterprinsleymp.bsky.social MP on the positive developments in dentistry - and the long road ahead as we fight to make sure everyone who needs to access an NHS dentist can do so. @thebda.bsky.social

Absolute pleasure to meet @anneliesemidgleymp.bsky.social MP to discuss the reasons behind the dental access crisis, and what needs to be done to end it. Really looking forward to working with you to press for change your constituents desperately need. @thebda.bsky.social

Nice to meet @jacobcolliermp.bsky.social today on why the number of people accessing NHS dentistry in Staffordshire dropped by 30% since before the pandemic, and what needs to be done to turn things around for those struggling to access the care they need across the country. @thebda.bsky.social

Pleasure to meet today with @martinwrigley.bsky.social MP in Parliament.Thank you for speaking up for both dentists and patients, and setting out the huge societal cost of failing to properly fund NHS dentistry.

This isn’t a matter of right and left. It’s about right and wrong. Government can either fund NHS dentistry properly, or millions will lose it forever.

Happy Easter to all colleagues and their families celebrating today from your friends @thebda.bsky.social

Colleagues in England, last chance to sign👇

Visit to Downing Street now confirmed with authorities. If you’re a dentist in England make sure you’ve signed👇

The approach UK Governments past and present have taken to covering costs has fuelled the crisis we face. It’s eaten into goodwill that’s in very short supply, and left thousands of NHS practices struggling to stay afloat.

“These investments show this government is serious about rebuilding NHS dentistry,” says DH. The gap between rhetoric and reality is clear. There is still no new money to underpin the rebuild. Not even to cover new activity for these overseas qualified dentists to deliver.

The responsibility - or lack thereof - rests with Rachel Reeves and HMT.

Thanks @libdems.org.uk and @helenmorganlibdem.bsky.social From think tanks to select committees, it’s very clear to everyone that’s looked at what’s really fuelling this crisis that fundamental reform must go hand in hand with sustainable funding. It’s not an either/or. @thebda.bsky.social

Pleased to hear @adrianramsay.bsky.social speaking this morning @bbcnorfolk.bsky.social highlighting issues for NHS Dentistry this morning Training local students part of the solution with more funding and contract reform also important @thebda.bsky.social

These horrific statistics are a badge of dishonour for governments past and present. Supervised brushing is important progress, but Ministers need to invest in restoring access to care.

What the evidence really says on 🇬🇧 British teeth vs the 🇺🇸 Hollywood Smile…

US 'experts' have described oral health in Britain as 'Third World'. 📈Yes, inequalities are widening. 🇺🇸But in the US working age adults are missing more teeth. 🇬🇧The UK Govt will decide whether we end up becoming an Austin Powers cliché. Our letter to the editor of @thetimes.com

🦷Why is it so hard to find an NHS dentist? 📻A must-listen state of the nation. 🎤Answers from by BDA Chair @eddiecrouch.bsky.social, Consultant Tom Thayer and @dentalhealthorg.bsky.social's Rachael England on BBC R4 Inside Health. 👉 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002r3nn

"Create a caricature of an NHS dentist based on everything you know about the role..." Undervalued. Overstretched. We've spelled out to the facts time and again. Government needs to show it's ready to act on them.

"It's a stupid system," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social An inflexible contract means that if a practice has capacity - while others in the area are actually reducing NHS work - that funding can't be kept on the frontline. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7z7x0w95go

A real privilege to take Tony and his family to Westminster. All too often dentistry has been treated as Cinderella service, a low priority that can’t compete with ‘life and death’ issues. Oral cancer demonstrates how high the stakes can be and that this profession can be life savers.

Thanks to Minister for Care @skinnock.bsky.social and Chief Dental Officer for England Jason Wong for attending our Q&A session on NHS #dentistry in Parliament today. The packed room shows the strength of feeling in Parliament on this crucial issue.

“Soundbites are all well and good" says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social "But what tens of millions of our patients need is real commitment, underpinned by sustainable investment.” https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/primary-care-bodies-unite-to-take-fight-for-financial-security-future-to-parliament/

Pleasure to meet @leepitcher.baky.social in Parliament. Thank you for your support as we call for urgent investment in NHS dentistry and other parts of primary care. @thebda.bsky.social

Thank you for a constructive discussion on what can be done both locally and nationally to end the dental desert in Cornwall. @benmaguiremp.bsky.social We’ll support you in any way we can as you stand up for your constituents’ right to see an NHS dentist @thebda.bsky.social

Great to speak to @pauldaviesmp.bsky.social today about why access to NHS dentistry is a crucial issue, morally, economically and politically. We need urgency and ambition to ensure everyone who needs to see an NHS dentist can do so. @thebda.bsky.social

Real life impact of the careless words from a world leader @mrjamesob.bsky.social www.facebook.com/share/v/1DTU...

We have not sent any Christmas Cards this year as my wife is engaged in lots of work with the Homeless and we have donated the money on cards stamps and postage to this worthy cause. I hope you understand. But wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2026.

“Hard won gains on oral health are going into reverse," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social “Government need to double down - and deliver promised reforms and vital investment." https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/dentists-england-survey-rotting-aohs-b2880872.html

Thank you @rachelgilmourld.bsky.social for your valued support @thebda.bsky.social

Your help has been extremely influential in raising the issues politically albeit the politicians all tell me their email boxes are full of nhs dental issues more than many other problems This is not difficult to resolve with fractions of nhs spend Thank you @thebda.bsky.social

Lovely to catch-up with @simonforstroud.bsky.social just now. As a GP, he gets the pressures primary care professionals are facing. Thank you for your ongoing support in pressing for urgent reform and investment into NHS dentistry.

Listening to @mrjamesob.bsky.social show this morning with the aside comments to the Knesset Speeches took me back to the days of Wogan and Eurovision .Only this time it was pointing out the untruths and sad subject matter that made it less entertaining But thanks James

“NHS dentistry has ceased to exist for millions of families," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social "Warm words won’t solve this - only real investment and meaningful reform will.” Sign here if you agree: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fund-nhs-dentistry-now

Great to catch up with the force of nature that is @rachelgilmourld.bsky.social Pleased to hear about progress in access to urgent dental care secured locally, but I know you won’t rest until everyone who needs an NHS dentist in can access one always happy to assist @thebda.bsky.social

Grateful to @helenmaguiremp.bsky.social for meeting to discuss the way forward for NHS dentistry. We spoke particularly about how NHS access is affecting military families and colleagues delivering care to new recruits @thebda.bsky.social

Great to sit down with @johnmilnehorsham.bsky.social to highlight how underfunding is pushing NHS dentistry to breaking point. Dentists want to provide NHS care, but the system makes it unsustainable. For the sake of our patients, this must change.