Is There an NHS Dentist Near Whitwick Taking On Patients?

christy446
3 days ago
3 min read

If you live in Whitwick or the surrounding villages and have been searching online for “NHS dentist near me taking on patients”, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common questions we hear.

Across Leicestershire, and particularly in areas like Whitwick, access to NHS dental care for adults is extremely limited.

So why is it so hard to find an NHS dentist — and what are your options if you can’t?

At Hermitage Dental Practice, we believe in being open and transparent, even if you’re simply looking for information.

Why is it so difficult to find an NHS dentist in Whitwick?

If you’ve tried calling practices or checking the NHS website, you may already have discovered that most are not currently accepting new adult NHS patients. This isn’t unique to Whitwick — it’s a national issue, but some areas are more affected than others.

Here’s why.

1. Limited NHS contracts

NHS dentistry operates under a fixed contract system. Each practice is given a set annual budget for NHS treatment. Once that allocation is used up, often months before the year ends, the practice cannot see additional NHS patients.

Many practices either:

Hold no NHS contract at all, or
Hold very small contracts, often prioritising children or urgent care

At Hermitage Dental Practice, for example, we hold a very small NHS contract for children only, but not for adult patients.

2. An outdated funding system

The current NHS dental contract was introduced in 2006 and hasn’t kept pace with rising costs, inflation, or modern dental care standards. As a result, many practices find NHS dentistry financially unsustainable, leading to reduced availability.

3. Dentist shortages

There is an increasing shortage of dentists willing to work under NHS conditions. This directly impacts appointment availability and leads to longer waiting lists — if lists are open at all.

4. The post-pandemic backlog

COVID-19 caused significant disruption to routine dentistry. NHS services are still prioritising emergencies and children, meaning routine adult appointments are often unavailable.

5. Local demand outweighs supply

Areas like Whitwick and the wider Leicestershire region are particularly affected. Many patients travel from neighbouring towns hoping to find a practice with NHS availability, which increases demand even further.

So… is there an NHS dentist near Whitwick taking on adults?

At the time of writing, it is extremely unlikely to find an NHS dentist in or around Whitwick currently accepting new patients. Availability can change from time to time, but due to NHS contract restraints, availability is extremely limited and any spaces that do become available are usually filled very quickly.

We’re proud to offer NHS dental care for children at Hermitage Dental Practice, as we believe early dental care is essential in supporting lifelong oral health.

If you’re finding it difficult to access NHS dentistry locally, we’re always happy to provide honest advice and discuss the options available to you.

What options do adults have instead?

For adults who can’t access NHS dentistry, private care is often the most realistic alternative — and it doesn’t have to be as expensive or complicated as many people expect.

What we offer at Hermitage Dental Practice

While we do not provide NHS dentistry for adults, we offer comprehensive private care with:

Preventive dental health reviews and hygiene care
Fillings, crowns, and restorative treatments
Cosmetic dentistry (including Whitening, Invisalign, Composite Bonding, Veneers and Dental Implants)
Emergency appointments when you need them most
Clear pricing and shorter waiting times
0% finance options for up to 12 months and interest bearing over 12 months

Our focus is always on prevention, helping patients avoid costly problems wherever possible.

Making private dentistry more affordable: membership plans

One of the easiest ways to manage dental costs is through a dental membership plan.

Our plans:

Start from £21.73 per month
Cover routine dental health reviews and hygiene visits
Include X-rays (when clinically required)
Offer 10% off most treatments (excluding cosmetic dentistry)
Provide priority and same-day emergency appointments
Include worldwide dental accident and emergency cover

For many patients, our most popular plan works out at around 87p per day — often less than unexpected dental bills later on.