Senedd: Why families in Mold just lost their NHS dentist
A Mold dental practice has handed back its NHS contract, forcing children and families out of NHS dental care, a North Wales MS has told the Senedd.
Mark Isherwood MS (Conservative, North Wales region) told the chamber that constituents in Mold had contacted him after Bryn Siriol dental practice gave up its NHS contract. His own grandchildren are among those affected.
Mr Isherwood said his own dentist told him the decision was “a direct consequence of the Welsh Government’s new dental contract, the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
The new NHS general dental services contract is due to take effect on 1 April 2026.
Mr Isherwood called for an urgent Government statement on how patient care would be protected.
“The human cost is now, and a Welsh Government statement is urgently needed explaining how patient care will be protected, now, urgently,” Mr Isherwood told the Senedd during the Business Statement on Tuesday.
He said the British Dental Association Cymru had raised serious concerns about both the process and substance of the new contract, including the absence of meaningful scrutiny and a lack of timely information provided to dentists.
Mr Isherwood told the chamber that the BDA had stated that “key operational documents had not been published, leaving practices facing major business decisions with only days to spare.”
He added that “dentists are being asked to operate on untested contracts without piloting, carrying significant financial risk, with many practices considering handing back contracts, having major implications for patient access across Wales.”
Bryn Siriol is not the only practice to have walked away. Mr Isherwood told MSs that Abergele dental practice had also handed back its contract.
Responding, the Trefnydd Jane Hutt MS (Labour, Vale of Glamorgan) said the new dental contract had been developed in consultation with the BDA.
“Issues have been raised about the consultation and leading to the new dental contract, which, of course, is as a result of consultation with the British Dental Association. They have been very engaged in that,” Ms Hutt said.
She added that the changes had been “well rehearsed” and that statements had already been made by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.
“It is something that is now working its way through and that has been understood by the dental profession,” Ms Hutt said.
She acknowledged the need for NHS dental access but did not commit to the Government statement Mr Isherwood had requested.
“We do, of course, have to make sure that there is accessibility to our NHS dental services here in Wales. It is on the record that your concerns have been raised,” Ms Hutt told the chamber.
Mr Isherwood had also noted that his call contradicted the Health Secretary’s position the previous week, saying the concerns had been raised “despite the health Secretary’s proclamation to the contrary here last week.”
Speaking after the session, Mr Isherwood said: “It is not right that people in Wales are being forced out of NHS dental services and that some are being left with no option but to travel outside of Wales, and even abroad, to access dental treatment.
“The Welsh Government should address this crisis as a matter of urgency.”
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