A dental practice in Gretna has notified patients of a move away from provision of adult NHS dental services.
The move by Gretna Dental Practice follows recent public warnings from Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership that constraints around access to NHS dental services within the region were likely to increase in the short term.
This comes amid a well-documented shortage of NHS dentists which is being experienced nationally.
Gretna Dental Practice have noted that issues around recruitment have played a significant factor in their move away from provision of NHS dental services.
As such, they are advising that as of 10 November 2022 around 2400 of their adult NHS patients will no longer be registered at the practice, but that the practice is continuing to offer private dental care.
NHS patients who receive notification from Gretna Dental Practice will therefore need to seek alternative provision.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway continues to work with dental practices to support all their efforts to attract dentists to take up opportunities within Dumfries and Galloway, but there is no immediate, easy means to address a situation being experienced not just in Dumfries and Galloway but nationally.
Ultimately, anyone who is not registered with a dentist and requires emergency dental care can access that by contacting the Dental Helpline on 0845 602 6417.
