A new dental centre is set to open in Gloucester this summer, offering much-needed relief amid a nationwide NHS dental care crisis.
Last summer, the British Dental Association released a report highlighting that satisfaction with NHS dentistry had dropped to an all-time low, with more than one in four adults struggling to access NHS dental services. The Local Government Association (LGA) found that, as of August 2025, no local authority area in England had more than one NHS dentist per 1,000 residents.
In response to these challenges, NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) approved the development of a new dental centre in March 2025 aimed at improving NHS dental access for those in greatest need. The contract to provide these vital services has now been awarded to Smile Together CIC, a social enterprise and one of the largest NHS emergency and referral dental care providers in the South West.
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Located at Quayside House in Gloucester—a property owned by Gloucestershire County Council—the new facility is currently under construction. It will feature seven individual treatment rooms and is expected to be operational by summer 2026.
The centre will offer daytime, evening, and weekend urgent care appointments for patients across Gloucestershire, accessible through NHS 111. Beyond urgent care, the centre will provide follow-up appointments to stabilise dental health and aims to become an NHS Dental Foundation training practice, mentoring newly qualified NHS dentists.
Christina Worle, Dental Strategy Clinical Lead at NHS Gloucestershire ICB, expressed optimism about the project: “Awarding this contract marks an important milestone towards expanding urgent and stabilisation dental services in an area where access has been challenging. Our goal is to offer extended care and focused support where it’s needed most.”
Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for public health at Gloucestershire County Council, emphasized the health impacts, stating, “Good oral health is fundamental to overall wellbeing. This new Dental Access Centre will provide timely urgent services and help prevent dental issues from worsening. Collaborating with NHS Gloucestershire ICB, we’re investing in a stronger, more resilient dental service for the future.”
Efforts will continue into next year to increase the availability of urgent and stabilisation dental appointments countywide. Additionally, NHS Gloucestershire ICB is working closely with local dentists and patient representatives to expand NHS dental places for residents, including children, exploring various options for improved access.