THOUSANDS more patients are set to be deregistered from NHS dental lists at a practice in Dumfries.
The Blue Door Dental Practice has informed NHS Dumfries and Galloway of 5000 more adult deregistrations.
It is their second deregistration, with the first 5000 adults finding themselves without NHS care as of Wednesday, March 1, with just three months prior notice.
And it’s because three of the five dentists there have moved to offer private monthly dental plans for over 18s.
This leaves just two to continue to provide services under NHS dental contract at full capacity.
However, all children under 18 years will remain registered as patients at Blue Door and continue to be offered NHS dental care, including those who are registered with the three associates who are moving to a private business plan. Those patients losing their registration at Blue Door will now need to seek alternative provision.
But the region’s director of public health Valerie White yesterday admitted access to NHS registrations is ‘extremely limited’ at present.
She added: “NHS Dumfries and Galloway continues to work to encourage and support dentists to provide NHS general dental services and is working closely with Scottish Government colleagues on these matters.
“However, lack of dentists coming to work in the region is a key issue, and challenges in dental workforce are being seen across the UK.”
Anyone who is not registered with a dentist and requires emergency dental care should contact the dental helpline on 0845 602 6417.
