Dental waiting list hoped to be eliminated by March 2026

Manx Care renegotiates contracts with dental providers

It's hoped the Island's dental waiting list will be almost eliminated by the end of this financial year.

Manx Care has agreed new contracts with its dental providers enabling them to take on more NHS patients.

It's expected to cost around an extra £700,000 each year to incentivise the providers to continue the work.

Currently there are 6,112 people without a dentist and a total of 5,695 patients will now be progressed from the NHS dental waiting list to be seen at a practice.

Melissa Pinkard is Manx Care's Directorate Manager for Integrated Primary Care and Therapy Services while Claire Christian MHK is the Health Minister:

The dental practices working under the new contractual arrangements are:

• 36 Woodbourne Road Dental Practice (Douglas)
• 65 Woodbourne Road Dental Practice (Douglas)
• smile Dental Care (Ramsey)
• Avondale Dental Practice (Onchan)
• Port Erin Dental Surgery (Port Erin)
• The Square Dental Practice (Douglas)
• Regent Dental Care (Peel)

Manx Care’s CEO, Teresa Cope says: "This marks the first in several transformative steps for NHS dental services on-Island.

"By working collaboratively with our dental providers and investing strategically, we are not only reducing the waiting list but also laying the groundwork for a more accessible, consistent and sustainable system. 

"I’d like to thank the practices who have committed to this new contract and to improving outcomes for our community."

Herman Van Rooyen, owner of dental practices in Douglas, says: "Having worked closely with Manx Care and the DHSC for almost two decades now, we've experienced both challenges and successes.

"While we've had differences regarding the best approach to supporting community access to dentistry, I'm pleased that we've now reached agreement on a new contract that should significantly improve dental care accessibility.

"This new contract represents an important step toward uniting our dental community, which has held varying perspectives on service delivery approaches. 

"We strongly support this collaborative direction.

"It's important to note that this contract marks the beginning, not the end, of our improvement journey. 

"The rollout will take time, but it creates the foundation we need to address fundamental systemic issues and develop sustainable solutions for the future of dental care on the Island."

Minister for Health and Social Care, Claire Christian, adds: "This is a landmark moment for dental care on the Isle of Man. 

"By investing in our NHS dental services and working closely with providers, Manx Care, with the support of the Department of Health and Social Care, is delivering real, tangible improvements for patients.

"This is a testament to the commitment of our dental professionals and the strength of our new approach. 

"These changes will ensure that more people can access timely, high-quality dental care, no matter where they live on the Island."

Anyone on the waiting list will be contacted directly regarding their allocation, and people are being urged not to contact the dental practices directly.