More than 53,000 NHS patients removed from dentist lists

24 April 2025

BBC NI Health Unit

There are almost 200,000 fewer NI patients ed with a dentist

Getty Images A dental examination taking place — There are almost 200,000 fewer NI patients ed with a dentist

Dentists in Northern Ireland have removed more than 53,000 NHS patients from their practice lists over the past two years, BBC News NI has learned.

During 2023 and 2024, 114 dentists handed back their NHS contracts to the Department of Health (DoH), with many of these now doing private work only.

Out of the 360 dental practices in Northern Ireland, only two are now fully NHS.

Peter Corkish said he was shocked to get a letter three weeks ago to sign up to a private plan from their dentist: "My wife has rung numerous dentists and everybody's saying the same, that they're only taking on private patients."

Figures obtained by BBC News NI show that in 2023, dentists removed 12,924 NHS patients from their practices – but that figure reached 40,980 last year.

The figures also revealed that up to January this year, there were 192,780 fewer patients ed with a dentist.

That figure includes "lapsed" patients who have not attended their dentist for some time, and have fallen off the registration list.

Some patients have been offered the chance to sign up to private dental payment plans, which cover basic check-ups and cleaning, with charges for extra treatments depending on the amount of money they have to pay in each month.

Mr Corkish, from Ballymoney, County Antrim, said he and his wife had tried to find other NHS dentists in their town and in nearby Coleraine and Ballymena but have had no luck.

Peter Corkish and his wife have been told their practice is no longer NHS

A man sits in his kitchen and looks into the camera. He has short, white hair and a dark and white goatee beard. He is wearing a blue and white shirt with an open collar. — Peter Corkish and his wife have been told their practice is no longer NHS

"It said that as of 1 July, the dental practice we're with is no longer offering that National Health Service and we're being given the option if we want to stay with them, to either obtain a dental plan or to just as a normal private patient," he explained.

"Nobody's catering for National Health Service (patients) anymore.

"There's one question I would like to put to local politicians and MPs and ask them is this the end of national health dental treatment within Northern Ireland":[]}