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Concern is mounting over planned sale of Netherfield dentist surgery

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Dental patients in Netherfield are at risk of being elbowed aside following the decision to put the local surgery up for sale.

Bupa Dental Care, on Victoria Road, is set to be sold amid mounting costs and care pressures.

Bupa said that after being unable to recruit more dentists and overarching issues post-pandemic they have taken the decision to close the centre’s doors.  

Dentist

It comes as part of a nationwide restructuring of Bupa’s dental practice, whereby they will be merging or selling 85 of their clinics because of increased running costs and high energy prices, as well as the aforementioned recruitment issues. The dentist is the only centre within Netherfield

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A spokesperson for Bupa commented: “We want to reassure patients that this practice is open as usual. 

“Changes are due to take place later in the year, and we are writing to all patients to explain what it means for them. This decision will allow the NHS contract to transfer to new owners. 

“We will be fully supporting our people to explore alternative roles within Bupa.” 

The selling of the Bupa centre will contribute to fears in the area, which are being reciprocated across the nation, that patients will have to go private for their dental care. Bright Smile Dental Practice is a five-minute walk from Bupa, and is currently welcoming new NHS patients although it also undertakes private dental care.  

Choices Dental Care Centre, which is also a five-minute drive from Bupa and accessible by the 44 bus, is a private clinic, albeit with a small NHS contract for under-18s. For adults, the initial appointment at Choices would be £75 and then any further routine checkups are £60. Fillings start at £100, but it depends on the type of filling and the surface.  

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Local resident Andrea Thornton raised concerns about the closure on social media.

She posted: “I rang 17 dentists to try get one that still took NHS and not one would help. I finally got one in Radford which takes two buses to get to.”

Paula Astin wrote: “After phoning over 20 dentists, some totally out of the area, I still can’t find any taking NHS patients.”

Tom Randall, MP for Gedling, who recently spoke out about another dental closure occurring in Gedling, said: “My office attended a briefing from Bupa in April. 

“While 38 dental practices will be closed by June, Bupa have initially decided to sell Netherfield’s branch, and they are now seeking a buyer for it before reviewing this position in the summer. Bupa remain optimistic that an alternative local provider can be found to continue access to dental services in the Netherfield community. 

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“I am pleased the Bupa Dental Care Netherfield remains open as usual. More broadly, there are record numbers of dentists treating NHS patients. There are 2.3% more dentists doing NHS work in 2021/22 than the previous year and 6.5% more dentists doing NHS work than in 2010/11.  

“In September 2022, the government published Our Plan for Patients, which outlines how the government will meet oral health needs and increase access to dental care. These will increase NHS dentistry whilst making the NHS dental contract more attractive to dental practices.  

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