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NHS Dental Access

Swindon residents drive across the country for dental treatment as NHS access collapses

By Elliot Rowan · · 3 mins read
Swindon residents drive across the country for dental treatment as NHS access collapses © theyoungdentist.com
Swindon residents drive across the country for dental treatment as NHS access collapses © theyoungdentist.com
Swindon patients are now travelling up to 78 miles or even flying abroad for dental care as NHS dentist access in the region hits crisis point.

Swindon residents are now driving as far as 78 miles or flying to Turkey just to get dental work done, as local NHS services struggle with long waitlists and private treatment costs that many can't afford.

For most, the options are limited: pay thousands for private care, wait in pain for an NHS slot, or look elsewhere. Vicky Jackson, who lives in Swindon, described her experience: "Just got back from Turkey, had all my teeth crowned, taken out, and implants. Fantastic job, could never have afforded it in UK."

By 2025/26, the unmet need for NHS dental care in England exceeded 13 million people-more than one in four adults, according to BDA analysis of official statistics.

She is not the only one. Sue Willsher Busuttil, also from Swindon, made the same trip. After being told she needed good oral health before a heart transplant, she found local options impossible. "Had a referral to hospital but that was horrific, private here is too expensive, ended up in Turkey- no regrets and had my transplant 18 months ago!"

Not everyone can travel abroad. One Swindon man, who asked not to be named, now drives to the Midlands for NHS dental care. "It's cheaper to pay for petrol, treatment, etc, than going private," he said. Others have simply given up. Jennifer Breakspear said, "As I can't afford private and can't seem to get an NHS, I've stopped bothering, therefore don't go." Rachel Sellens added, "Haven't been to a dentist since before lockdown. I just can't afford it."

The numbers show how bad things have become. Research by UNTIL found that in 2024, Swindon residents had only an 18 percent chance of being accepted by an NHS dentist. Across England, at least 600 dental practices have left the NHS in the past nine years, with the South West among the hardest hit. The Nuffield Trust reports a 9 percent drop in practices offering NHS services, even though the total number of dental practices has gone up. A BDA analysis of official statistics confirms the scale of unmet dental need across England.

From April 2026, standard NHS dental charges in England are set at £27.90 for Band 1, £76.60 for Band 2, and £332.10 for Band 3 treatments. This pricing structure is a key factor driving patients to compare NHS costs with private care or even dental tourism.

Receptionists at several Swindon dental practices say they get daily calls from people unable to find NHS appointments. Swindon was already named one of the worst places in the UK for NHS dental access two years ago, and things have only got worse since then.

The Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB has not responded to requests for comment. In the meantime, patients are left to manage on their own. The trips to Turkey and the Midlands are not about choice-they are what people do when the system no longer offers basic care.

When people have to cross counties or even fly abroad for dental treatment, it shows how badly NHS dental access in Swindon has broken down. For many, the only options left are to travel, pay high fees, or give up on dental care altogether. This is not a short-term problem. Unless something changes, the impact on public health will only get worse.

Topics: NHS Dental Access Health Inequalities UK Dentistry #NHS Dentistry
Elliot Rowan Founder, Publisher & Editorial Director The Young Dentist
Author

Elliot Rowan

Elliot Rowan is the Founder, Owner, Publisher & Editorial Director of The Young Dentist, overseeing coverage of dentistry, oral health, evidence, professional standards, policy and dental technology. His editorial approach focuses on clinical usefulness, reliable sourcing and separating meaningful developments from speculation, marketing and headline-driven claims.