Dentists across Powys will take on more than 200 new NHS dentist patients per month.

Powys Teaching Health Board said that Powys dental practices will be taking on approximately 269 new patients per month as part of the Welsh Government’s Covid-19 Recovery Plan.

The health board revealed the latest development following a recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by The Brecon & Radnor Express

The FOI request also showed that the health board had received the same number of complaints regarding NHS dental provision in Powys in 2021 as in the previous four years put together.

The health board received 17 complaints regarding dental provision across the county just in 2021.

In 2020 it received five complaints, in 2019 it received six complaints, in 2018 it received four and in 2017 it received two.

When asked about why the healthboard felt it has increased complaints in the last year, a spokesman from Powys Teaching Health Board said that the Covid-19 pandemic had led to disruption to “all primary care services” across the UK as well as in Powys.

The teaching health board also revealed as part of the FOI that during 2019, only three of 23 dental practices in Powys were taking on new NHS patients.

Before 2019, the health board did not hold the information as it was held by individual dental practices and in 2020, no practices were taking on new patients due to the global Coronavirus pandemic.

When asked about the number of spaces available specifically for NHS dentist patients in the last five years, the health board confirmed that it does not hold this “specific” data.

However the issue of dental provision has not been specific to Powys as people all over Wales have reported struggling to register with a dentist or get an appointment.

As part of the Welsh Government’s Covid-19 recovery plan, all NHS practices in Wales are required to take on a minimum number of new NHS patients per month.

Dental practices across Wales will be expected to take on a number of patients which is based on the value of their contract.

The Brecon and Radnor Express asked the healthboard whether it is concerned about dentists meeting the demand of new patients and whether provisions had been put in place to make sure patients are able to get appointments.

The teaching health board said it has secured “additional urgent access slots” and that it has set up a new helpline number but other wise did not comment on dentists being able to meet demand.

The Powys Teaching Health Board spokesman said: “Over the past 18 months, lockdowns and additional requirements related to the COVID pandemic have led to disruptions in all primary care services across the UK as well as here in Powys.

“The enhanced infection control procedures required to keep patients and staff safe has meant that there is a reduced throughput of patients compared to before the pandemic and dental teams have been asked to prioritise their patients based on need. In order to help patients to access dental services, Powys Teaching Health Board has recently set up a new dental helpline for residents looking to find an NHS dentist in Powys. We have also secured additional urgent access slots.

“The dental helpline number is 01597 828815. This line is open Monday-Friday from 9am until 5pm”.

CORRECTION: Dentists will collectively take on an estimated 269 new patients per month across Powys not per week. There was an error in the initial story reporting this as per week due to an error in the response by Powys Teaching Health Board to the Freedom of Information request. We are sorry for any confusion.