Following Richard Quigley MPs work to bring together the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and dentists from across the Island, new measures have been introduced to improve collaboration and increase the number of available appointments.
As a result, a series of changes to strengthen NHS dentistry on the Isle of Wight are now helping to improve access, expand capacity, and support patients across the Island.
Freshwater closure and contract redistribution
Following the closure of the MyDentist site in Freshwater, work has been undertaken to ensure continuity of care, with services now continuing under Denbigh House. Activity from terminated contracts has also been redistributed across providers, helping to ensure fairer access to appointments across the Island.
Additional commissioning has led to a broader increase in dental activity, with enhanced urgent care capacity now available to patients. Oral health promotion work has also been expanded across the island, including new programmes in schools to improve long-term outcomes for children.
Expanding access and capacity
Further support has been delivered through flexible commissioning arrangements, including:
- The introduction of an urgent and additional hours scheme
- Dedicated urgent sessions for children
- Clinics focused on stabilisation, helping patients become more dentally fit
- Agreements allowing providers to deliver up to 110% of contracted activity to
maximise NHS access
A 48% rise in dental activity
The Isle of Wight has also seen a significant 48% increase in the Units of Dental Activity (UDA) rate in 2026, recognising the unique challenges of delivering services on the Island.
This has been complemented by additional investment in orthodontic care, with increased capacity commissioned over the next three years.
Supporting the workforce
A range of workforce initiatives are also helping to build resilience in local services, including:
- “Golden Hello” recruitment incentives to attract and retain dentists
- Funded training places for conscious sedation
- The launch of Portsmouth University Dental School in October 2026, with
opportunities being explored for a local training hub
Quigley: This is an important start
Isle of Wight West Labour MP Richard Quigley celebrated the news
“On the campaign trail in 2024, I lost count of the number of residents who shared their frustration at the quality of dental services on the Island. That’s why, when I was elected, improving access to NHS dentistry became a key priority for me.
“Since then, partners across the Island have grasped the nettle and, over the past 18 months, have made real progress in tackling these challenges. The announcement of a new dental training school in Portsmouth, and the opportunity to establish a hub on the Isle of Wight, is also very welcome news for Islanders and for the future of local oral health.
“This is an important start, and I will continue working closely with the ICB to drive further improvements.”
Targeted support through Dentaid
Alongside NHS provision, the charity Dentaid has continued to provide vital additional support to communities across the Island.
In the last financial year (April 2025 – March 2026), Dentaid delivered:
- 63 clinics
- Over 430 patients treated
- More than 2,000 treatments provided
This included oral health assessments, cancer screenings, fillings, extractions, and preventative interventions such as fluoride varnish.
Delivering long-term improvement
These measures represent a coordinated effort to address longstanding challenges in NHS dentistry on the Isle of Wight — improving access in the short term while laying the groundwork for sustainable, long-term reform.
Further work is ongoing to continue expanding capacity, improving prevention, and ensuring residents across the Island can access high-quality NHS dental care when they need it
News shared by the office of Richard Quigley MP. Ed
