GeraClinic / NHS Dentistry Access Index / By region / North West
NHS dental access in North West
The Gera NHS Dentistry Access Index for North West is 45.8 / 100 for June 2023 — 45.8% of adults were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 24 months, so 54.2% had no NHS dental contact.
What is NHS dental access like in North West?
For June 2023, the Gera NHS Dentistry Access Index for North West is 45.8 / 100 — 45.8% of adults were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 24 months, so 54.2% had no NHS dental contact. That is 5.1 percentage points above the England average. Within the region, access ranges from 41.4% in Lancashire and South Cumbria to 48.0% in Greater Manchester.
North West ranks 2 of 7 NHS regions for adult NHS dental access, 5.1 percentage points above the England average of 40.7 / 100. Every figure is the real per-ICB access rate, population-weighted — see the methodology.
Index
45.8 / 100
around the England average for NHS dental access
Adults seen (24 mo)
45.8%
of adult population
Access gap
54.2%
no NHS dental contact
Region rank
2 / 7
3 ICBs
NHS dental access by ICB in North West
The index for each of North West’s 3 Integrated Care Boards, best access first. Click any area for its full ICB detail. Every figure is the real NHS access rate.
| NHS area (ICB) | Dentistry Access Index | Adults seen (24 mo) | Access gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Manchester | 48 / 100 | 48.0% | 52.0% |
| Cheshire and Merseyside | 46.4 / 100 | 46.4% | 53.6% |
| Lancashire and South Cumbria | 41.4 / 100 | 41.4% | 58.6% |
NHS dental access in North West: FAQs
- How good is NHS dental access in North West?
- For June 2023, the Gera NHS Dentistry Access Index for North West is 45.8 / 100 — 45.8% of adults were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 24 months, so 54.2% had no NHS dental contact. That is above the England national score of 40.7 / 100. The region score is the real per-ICB rate across 3 Integrated Care Boards, population-weighted.
- Which part of North West has the worst NHS dental access?
- Of the 3 Integrated Care Boards in North West, Lancashire and South Cumbria has the lowest adult NHS dental access at 41.4% (index 41.4 / 100), while Greater Manchester has the highest at 48.0% (index 48 / 100).
- How is the region score calculated?
- It is the real adult 24-month NHS dental access rate for each ICB in North West, population-weighted: region rate = Σ(adult population × access rate) ÷ Σ(adult population). The score is that rate on a 0–100 scale (100 = universal access). Full method on the methodology page.
Struggling to find an NHS dentist in North West?
With 54.2% of adults in North West without recent NHS dental contact, some people use a private online consultation for urgent dental advice while they search for an NHS place. GeraClinic connects you with a UK-registered clinician by video — it is a private service and not affiliated with the NHS. For severe pain, facial swelling or bleeding that will not stop, contact NHS 111 or your dentist now; in an emergency call 999.
Source
North West’s score is population-weighted from the real per-ICB adult access rates in NHS Dental Statistics for England — every figure traces back to the release below. The index and its aggregation are the Gera contribution and are fully specified on the methodology page. Published 3 July 2026.
Contains public sector information published by NHS Digital / NHS England and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS Dental Statistics for England 2022-23 — Table 3e (Geographical Breakdown) (June 2023, published 24 August 2023).
Contains public sector information published by Gera Systems and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (source data). Source: Gera NHS Dentistry Access Index — derived from NHS Dental Statistics for England open data (June 2023, published 3 July 2026).