A VILLAGE dentist practice is being forced to close due to recruitment issues and costs.
Patients at the mydentist branch based at St Andrew’s Square in Bolton-upon-Dearne have received letters explaining the issues the practice has been facing and they have been instructed that it will close on June 30.
The letter reads: “The decision to close the practice has not been taken lightly. Unfortunately, difficulties experienced in recruiting dentists to the area and increased running costs have prevented the practice from operating sustainably.
“Due to a lack of NHS clinicians, the practice will not be able to provide patients with any routine NHS care prior to the closure.
“However, an NHS dental emergency triage service will continue to be offered until we close.
“We are sorry that we have had to take this decision.
“Should you wish to access another NHS dental practice you can visit the NHS website or alternatively call NHS 111.”
It is a further blow for the Wentworth and Dearne constituency with MP John Healey bemoaning closures in the past.
He said: “It’s devastating news for patients that this (my) dentist branch in Bolton-upon-Dearne is closing. Many will simply not be able to find or afford another dentist. Four million people across the country can’t now get access to NHS dental care and can’t afford to go private either.
“The practice has highlighted problems in recruiting dentists and increased running costs as reasons for the decision. Unfortunately, these are the problems across the country as more than 2000 dentists quit the NHS in 2021 while the number of NHS dental practices has fallen by more than 1,200 in recent years. Dentists talk about being undervalued and under-resourced by the government.
“NHS services have been badly hit by Conservative Ministers over the past 13 years. The Government needs to reform NHS dental contracts and take-up Labour’s 10-year plan to invest in the NHS workforce by abolishing non-dom tax breaks for the richest to help pay for the future of NHS dentistry.”
