New Investment And Reforms Aim To Improve NHS Dentistry On The Isle Of Wight

New measures aimed at improving access to NHS dentistry on the Isle of Wight have been announced following discussions between Island dentists, the Integrated Care Board and Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley.

The changes are designed to increase appointment availability, expand urgent care access and strengthen long-term dental services across the Island.

Following the closure of the mydentist practice in Freshwater, services have now continued under Denbigh House to help maintain patient care.

Additional NHS dental activity has also been redistributed across providers to improve access to appointments more fairly across the Island.

New commissioning arrangements include extra urgent appointments, dedicated emergency sessions for children and stabilisation clinics designed to help patients become more dentally fit.

Providers are also now able to deliver up to 110% of their contracted NHS activity in an effort to maximise access.

The Isle of Wight has also received a 48% increase in its Units of Dental Activity (UDA) rate for 2026, reflecting the additional challenges of providing dental services on the Island.

Extra investment has additionally been confirmed for orthodontic care over the next three years.

A number of workforce initiatives are also being introduced, including “golden hello” recruitment incentives for dentists and funded conscious sedation training places.

Plans are also progressing for the launch of Portsmouth University Dental School later this year, with discussions underway over the possibility of establishing a local training hub on the Isle of Wight.

Richard Quigley said improving NHS dentistry had become a major priority after hearing concerns from residents during the 2024 General Election campaign.

He said partners across the Island had made “real progress” over the past 18 months in addressing longstanding issues with access to NHS dental care.

Alongside NHS services, charity Dentaid has continued providing additional support to Island communities.

Between April 2025 and March 2026, Dentaid delivered 63 clinics on the Island, treating more than 430 patients and providing over 2,000 treatments including fillings, extractions, oral health checks and cancer screenings.

Officials say further work is ongoing to improve prevention, expand capacity and ensure Islanders can access NHS dental care when needed.