Two new dentist clinics coming to Portsmouth in effort to solve 'dental desert'
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The city has had longstanding problems with securing enough treatment places for patients
Efforts to solve Portsmouth’s “dental desert” status have been boosted with two new clinics set to open.
Suitable properties in the highest-need areas have been found. Portsmouth City Council, The University of Portsmouth, and local health commissioning partners, have joined forces in a bid to secure future treatment for more patients.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth, Professor Graham Galbraith CBE, said: “These two new clinics are much needed in the city and a demonstration of the University’s commitment to work with city partners to support our community. Portsmouth has been a dental desert for too long.”
The first site selected as a potential location is the former Healthy Living Centre in Paulsgrove. It’s hoped the second facility will be integrated into a council site in Portsea, located close to the main University campus. Surveyors will be deployed to assess the suitability of the locations and get them closer to being opened.
These new sites, once fully operational, will increase the university’s dental patient capacity from around 5,000 to approximately 10,000 per year. Prof Galbraith added: “We are training the next generation of dental professionals right here in the city and are proud to expand our community clinics while developing a much needed-dental healthcare workforce.”
Portsmouth has fewer than 100 NHS dentists serving a population of more than 200,000 residents. Colosseum Dental closed three practices in 2019, which left 20,000 people without an NHS dentist. This included Pauslgrove Dental Practice, in Allaway Avenue, Southsea Dental Practice, in Victoria Road North, and Portsea Dental Practice in the John Pounds Centre. The nearest spaces available at the time were a ferry ride away in Gosport, or a half-hour drive away in Havant.
The woeful situation sparked The News launched its Kick In The Teeth campaign, which demanded a radical overhaul of Portsmouth’s decaying dental industry. Politicians threw their weight behind the initiative at the time. NHS data showed that by the end of March 2021, only 90 NHS dentists were operating in the city.
Significant investments have been made in dental education in response. The University of Portsmouth was awarded 25 training places in June, making it the first dental school in the south east of England. Backed by £11m of government funding, the first domestic students are expected to begin training in September 2027.
The dental school will operate these new clinics, which are planned to be delivered in 2027. So far, the institution’s dental academy trains dental nurses, hygienists, and therapists, while treating more then 5,000 patients each year.
Councillor Darren Sanders, cabinet member for housing and tackling homelessness, said: “We're committed to using our council buildings to provide services that benefit the communities they are part of. Access to NHS dental care has been a real challenge for people in Portsmouth. While this project is still at an early stage, it represents a significant step forward for our residents.
“This is about more than increasing the number of appointments - it’s about improving health, tackling inequalities and giving families the confidence that they can access vital services close to home.”
Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin: "This is fantastic news for Paulsgrove and for Portsmouth. Improving access to NHS dentistry has been one of the biggest issues raised with me by local residents, so I warmly welcome the opening of this new University Dental Hub. I regularly meet with the brilliant teams at the University of Portsmouth and consistently challenge them on what more they can do to support communities in the north of our city. I'm delighted they've listened and are bringing this much-needed facility to Paulsgrove, helping more local people access dental care while giving students invaluable hands-on experience.”
Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said it was a “major win” for the city. “For too long, my constituents across Portsmouth South have faced an uphill battle just to see an NHS dentist,” he added. “This new facility will provide vital relief to that pressure while ensuring our communities get the care they deserve. The University of Portsmouth continues to prove itself as a powerhouse for local good.
“By pairing top-tier training for the next generation of dental professionals with direct, accessible care for residents, they are tackling one of our city’s most persistent challenges head-on. Alongside the game-changing news that Portsmouth will host half of the nation's new dental school places, this hub marks a turning point for local healthcare. We are not just patching over the cracks; we are building a sustainable, long-term solution to the dentistry crisis. I am delighted to see this project come to life.”