NEARLY 2000 more dental patients in Annandale and Eskdale are set to lose access to NHS treatment this summer.
Gunning Dental have issued a letter to 1218 adult patients at their Langholm practice, notifying them of its planned closure on July 31.
It means all NHS adult patients served by the practice will be deregistered, while under 18s are to be transferred to Gunning’s Annan surgery.
Explaining the closure decision, they say it’s primarily because the Langholm practice no longer qualifies for the General Dental Practice Allowance (GDPA), as well as difficulties in staff recruitment and what they describe as the unlikely prospect of recruiting dentists to the surgery in the future.
Meanwhile, in Annan, 771 adult patients of dentist Mark Buddy are also to be deregistered from NHS services.
However, the practice note that they are continuing to offer private dental plans.
Commenting on this week’s developments, public health director Valerie White said: “The situation regarding access to NHS dental services in Dumfries and Galloway is a significant concern and one the Board is taking very seriously.
“We continue work to encourage and support dentists to provide NHS general dental services and are 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.”
The news has angered South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth, who called for action from both governments.
He said: “It seems to be one dental practice after another is axing or reducing NHS services at the moment, and the Scottish Government are like rabbits caught in the headlights.
“They have no ideas or plans to deal with this crisis. As a result, NHS dentistry in Dumfries and Galloway is in crisis, the time for warm words is over, we need action.
“Patients in Langholm and more in Annan will now have to join many others across the region in either having to pay for private care or try to find another dentist that provides NHS care but that is almost impossible locally. It is effectively the privatisation of NHS care in Dumfries and Galloway.”
Mr Smyth added: “This isn’t the first practice to remove NHS services and it certainly won’t be the last. I expect many others to follow.
“Unless both governments face up to this crisis in our area, it is only a matter of time before no adult in our region will have NHS dental care.”
