There is not one dentist surgery in Oldham which is able to take on new NHS patients, an investigation by The Oldham Times has revealed.

Signing up to an NHS dental surgery is a nationwide struggle, but residents across the borough have long claimed there is a stark lack of dental practices taking on new NHS patients.

Last year, one dentist said the borough is on the brink of a "dental timebomb", accelerated by the cost of living crisis and a shortage of NHS dentists.

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At the time, the NHS UK's website, which allows patients to search for a dentist by postcode or local area, revealed there were 28 dentists in Oldham, five of which claimed to be taking on new NHS patients.

Now, almost nine months later, there are still 28 dentists operating across the borough but eight claim to be taking on new NHS patients, according to the website.

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There are a further four dental practices where data on the NHS website is missing, suggesting between eight to 12 practices could be taking on new patients.

However, after The Oldham Times called each dentist surgery over the last few months, not one said it was accepting patients for NHS treatment.

Here are the results for each dental practice:

On the NHS website, Morris Dental Care on Union Street was accepting new NHS patients of all ages as of June 11 this year.

However, the surgery said while it can add new patients to a waiting list, it is currently "very long".

The Tooth Place Dental Surgery on Yorkshire Street also claimed to be taking on new patients as of June 12, yet over the phone it advised patients to call again next year.

Ravat and Ray Dental Care on Tanhill Lane had not supplied any information to the NHS website in the last 90 days.

But it also said it was at "full capacity" and was unable to accept any new NHS patients.

Precision Dental Clinic on Heyside in Royton also failed to give the NHS an update, but confirmed its NHS list was "full" and wouldn't be accepting new patients for at least a "few weeks".

Also in Royton is the Peter Hughes Royton Dental Care Ltd practice, situated in the Royton Health and Wellbeing Centre on Park Street.

According to the NHS website, the dentist is accepting adults aged 18 and over, children aged 17 and under and adults entitled to free dental care.

While the information was only updated on the site on June 20, the practice said it is only currently able to accept children.

Good Dentist on Hollins Road similarly said it was accepting new NHS patients of all ages as of May 23, but its automated voicemail service claimed the contrary when contacted by The Oldham Times.

Also on Hollins Road, M60 Dental Care is meant to be taking on new NHS patients.

But when contacted, the practice said it can add patients to a waiting list but advised there is already a "few thousand patients" on the list.

Harmony Dental Spa on High Street likewise said its NHS list is full, and would only accept patients for emergency treatment.

The last time J Lapidus - The Broadway Dental Surgery on Broadway in Chadderton supplied information to the NHS was April 12 this year.

But, an automated voicemail confirmed before patients are connected that it is no longer accepting NHS patients.

The only glimmer of hope of signing up for a new dentist across the entire list is Harvey Showman - Showman's the Dentist.

The practice, otherwise known as Quayside Dental Practice which sits on Oldham Road in Failsworth, said while it is not currently accepting new patients, it hopes to open the list again this September when a new NHS dentist joins the team.

But just down the road at Pearl Smile dental practice, patients are advised to call back again in a few months - as are those hoping to sign up to D Vallance and Associates on Lord Lane.

The NHS Website also stated Mr M O Malik, Oldham Orthodontics on Hollins Road, would be accepting new NHS patients - but only if they have a referral from another dentist.

The dentists that are not taking on new NHS patients according to the NHS website include:

  • Patel and Mizra Dental Surgery, Union Street (as of June 27)
  • Ashton Road Limited Company (Elli and Associates), Ashton Road (as of May 15)
  • Marjory Lees Dental Centre, Ashton Road (as of July 12)
  • Mydentist, Lees Road (as of July 19)
  • Mydentist, Ripponden Road (as of July 12)
  • Bupa Dental Care, Rochdale Road (as of May 22)
  • Mydentist, Manchester Road (as of July 25)
  • Natalie Milner Firwood Dental Practice, Middleton Road (as of August 8)
  • Park House Springhead, Oldham Road (as of July 20)
  • Mydentist, Market Street, Shaw (as of July 24)
  • N.Naeem, Saddleworth Dental Clinic on Oldham Road, Uppermill (as of August 8)
  • DHS Dental Practices Limited on Bridge Street, Uppermill (as of July 20)

Meanwhile, the following claim to be only accepting children aged 17 or under for NHS treatments:

  • Park House Werneth, Manchester Road (as of July 12)
  • Ahmad and Saleem Partners Ltd (Glodwick Dental Centre), Abbey Hills Road (as of June 21)
  • K Khan Lees Dental Centre, High Street (as of August 14)

The Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership has been approached for comment but did not respond before publication.

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