Odenta website links High Barnet residents to NHS dental slots
Since its August 2026 launch the platform has matched over 70 patients and signed up more than 50 practices across the UK
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The Odenta platform opened to the public in August 2026, offering residents of High Barnet and surrounding areas a free way to find NHS dental appointments. Dr Majid Saeed, principal dentist at the High Barnet Dental Practice, created the service to reduce the mismatch between patient demand and spare capacity in NHS practices.
How the service works
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Patients register on www.odenta.co.uk and indicate whether they are willing to travel beyond their immediate neighbourhood. When a practice records an unused NHS slot, the system automatically sends an alert by text, email or app notification to any registered patient whose criteria match the opening. The connection is made at no cost to the patient.
“My aim in building this platform is to match patients with available appointments and I wanted to ensure we tackled the pressures people are under when looking for an NHS dentist and help them free of charge.”
Dr Majid Saeed, principal dentist
Early impact
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Dr Saeed estimates that, in the four months since launch, the website has secured NHS appointments for more than 70 patients. He also reports that well over 50 dental practices have signed up, with new members joining from as far as Manchester and Birmingham as well as across London. The rapid uptake suggests that practices see value in filling vacant slots quickly.
Funding model and future steps
Odenta is financed by a booking fee paid by practices when the platform arranges a private emergency or other dental work for a patient. That revenue covers the operating costs while keeping the service free for NHS seekers. Dr Saeed says the system is fully automated, allowing instant matching and reducing administrative burden for both patients and practices.
The next phase involves expanding the network to include more practices in the Barnet area and encouraging residents to register. The Barnet Society highlighted the initiative as a potential model for other boroughs facing similar appointment shortages.
Questions this report answers
+How does Odenta match patients with NHS appointments?
Patients sign up on the Odenta website and specify their location and travel willingness. When a practice records a free NHS slot, the system instantly notifies matching patients by text, email or app alert, allowing them to book the appointment.
+How many patients have been helped by Odenta so far?
Dr Saeed estimates that the platform has secured NHS appointments for more than 70 patients since it launched in August 2026. This figure reflects the service’s early success in connecting demand with spare capacity.
+Do patients have to pay to use Odenta?
No. The service is free for patients. Practices pay a booking fee when the platform arranges private or emergency work, and that revenue funds the website’s operation.
+Which dental practices are part of the Odenta network?
Over 50 practices have joined, including those in High Barnet, across London and in cities such as Manchester and Birmingham. The network continues to grow as more NHS practices sign up to fill unused appointment slots.
Barnet Press News Desk
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