More mydentist practices close in N Yorks
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- Published: Tuesday, 06 February 2018 07:45
- Written by News Editor
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The closure of mydentist branches in Richmond and Catterick, North Yorkshire, has left patients wondering where else they can go after two practices revealed they are to close. The corporate confirmed they will close as there are “not enough dentists to fulfil their NHS contract”. After the revelation, nearby dental practices said they were full and are unable to take on new patients.
Rishi Sunak MP has written to NHS dentistry chiefs urging them to plug the gap in the area and make more places available. He said: "I made representations to NHS England about this issue at the end of last year and was told a review of NHS dentistry was taking place across Yorkshire which would aim to improve the service in areas like Catterick Garrison which is a growing community.
"In my letter sent this week I have urged them to allocate the NHS money spent through My Dentist to other dentists in the Richmond and Catterick area. This cannot wait for a county-wide review to run its course." Mr Sunak said he understood there were dentists in the area with the physical capacity to treat more NHS patients once a suitable funding arrangement was in place.
Ian Gordon, a partner of Alpha Dental Studio and chair of North Yorkshire Local Dental Committee (LDC), told a local paper: “A few years ago we noticed requests from patients at My Dentist who wanted to join Alpha Dental as they were struggling to retain dentists which meant patients never saw the same person twice. We knew, as well as NHS England did, that this issue was going to come to a head. We have been asking for additional funding and are concerned the NHS has failed to act. Unfortunately, My Dentist are victims of the system.”
Alpha has had the physical capacity to see more patients for several years after expanding premises in 2014 and of course pre 2006 patients would have followed - but we all know the consequences of devolving funding locally....
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