The NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board was ranked in second place for dental care complaints between 2024-25, according to a freedom of information request issued by Patient Claim Line.
Data showed approximately 2,286 complaints were made last year across the 40 ICBs that responded to the request with Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB receiving 203, the second highest rate in England.
The most common issue raised by patients was access and waiting times, accounting for 66 per cent of complaints in 2024-25, while other patient concerns included safe and high quality co-ordinated care, building closer relationships, better information and more choice.
Associate Solicitor and Clinical Negligence team leader at Patient Claim Line Katie Parr said: “If you have experienced dental negligence, such as misdiagnosis, delayed treatment or inadequate care, you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
“In order to establish that dental negligence has occurred, it’s crucial to provide evidence that you have suffered unnecessarily, or that your condition worsened, because of a lack of care. This includes medical records, dental records, photographs of injuries, and a detailed statement about what you experienced.”
Patient Claim Line, a firm of medical negligence solicitors dealing with claims across England and Wales, issued the FOI request to 42 ICBs across the England, receiving 40 responses detailing the common complaints made in the 2024-25 tax year.
NHS Greater Manchester ICB had received the highest number of complaints, at 221, while NHS South Yorkshire ICB ad the least number of complaints with only one throughout last year.
A spokesperson for the trust said: “Lancashire and South Cumbria faces similar challenges to those seen all over the country around NHS dental access and waiting times.
“The ICB has a dedicated work programme to help us make improvements to dental access and implement measures aimed at supporting the population to maintain good oral health.
“We understand the difficulties people face in accessing dental care, and if anyone requires urgent care, they can phone 0300 1234 010 (charged at local rate). This service can provide advice, support and an appointment where required.”
