Plymouth MPs call for more dental school places to tackle NHS dentistry shortage
Local leaders push for a 25% increase in training spots at Peninsula Dental School
Plymouth MPs have united to urge the Government to increase dental training places at Peninsula Dental School, calling the shortage of NHS dental care in the city “a crisis.”
Labour MPs Luke Pollard (Plymouth Sutton & Devonport) and Fred Thomas (Plymouth Moor View), along with Conservative MP Rebecca Smith (South West Devon), met with Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock to discuss the city's dental health challenges.
The Peninsula Dental School, part of the University of Plymouth, currently admits 58 dental students annually. The MPs and the Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise (PDSE) are campaigning to increase this number by 14 to 72, a 25% uplift, to meet growing community needs.
Addressing the dental crisis
Thousands of Plymouth residents remain on waiting lists for NHS dental care, with child oral health outcomes among the worst in the country. PDSE provides thousands of appointments through its outreach programmes for vulnerable communities, but there is a rising need for more locally trained dentists.
Luke Pollard MP said training more dentists was essential for long-term solutions: “The dental crisis in Plymouth is not new. It has got worse over the last decade, and that’s why we need bold decisions.
“I want to see more dentists trained in the South West and stay in the South West working in NHS practices.”
Fred Thomas MP highlighted the impact on Plymouth residents: “Provision in the South West has been inadequate for far too long, and it’s damaging people’s health.
“Boosting local training places will strengthen our workforce and deliver better, more accessible care for our communities.”
Rebecca Smith MP added: “Oral health in and around Plymouth is a serious concern. Ensuring we train more local people to become dentists will allow them to stay and provide dental care for residents.”
Plans for improvement
Peninsula Dental School will open a new £5 million city centre facility as part of Plymouth’s health village, aimed at expanding urgent dental care and supporting training.
MPs’ calls for an increase in dental training places follow the Government’s wider efforts to improve NHS dentistry as outlined in the 10-year plan, published in July 2025. The plan includes measures to increase the number of NHS dentists and improve access to dental services.
Since 2007, the total number of dental school places across the UK has been restricted to 809 annually. The Government is now considering lifting this cap as part of addressing dental care shortages nationwide.