Dental needs on island reach 'critical' level

The mydentist clinic in Freshwater will close at the end of October

The last dentist providing NHS treatment to an island community is set to shut.

The closure of mydentist in Freshwater on the Isle of Wight will mean the island has lost six practices providing NHS treatment in the last eighteen months.

None of the five remaining are taking on new patients.

Joanne Smith from Healthwatch Isle of Wight, the patient voice charity, said the closure would have a "huge impact" on people, especially children, with the situation now "critical".

Mydentist said the ongoing recruitment crisis in dentistry meant "the practice was sadly no longer sustainable".

Patient Ieuan Jehu is organising a petition to save dental provision in the town

Patient Ieuan Jehu has collected more than 1,800 signatures on a petition to mydentist and the Integrated Care Board (ICB) asking them to reconsider or offer alternative provision.

He said: "We already know people are pulling out their own teeth, it's sad so many people can't access the services they are entitled to."

Mr Jehu added that he had met people who were travelling to the mainland for treatment, including Havant, Godalming and Bedford.

"One couple told me they were organising trips to Spain just so they could see a reasonably priced dentist," he said.

Isle of Wight West MP, Richard Quigley has written to health minister Stephen Kinnock saying the Island needed "urgent" intervention.

He said Labour's plan to incentivize dentists would be too slow for the Island and the area needed a rescue plan.

The BBC understands that for the past 24 months mydentist has been attempting to recruit an NHS dentist to the Freshwater site but has been unable to do so.

A spokesperson said: “The practice requires at least two full-time dentists to deliver the NHS contract.”

Private dentists also full

In the year April 2023-24, 40% of children on the island saw an NHS dentist and 23% of adults - lower than the national average.

Joanne Smith, manager of Healthwatch Isle of Wight said people's needs are increasing: "By the time people see a dentist, their oral health is so poor, they need more and more work done in the chair."

Healthwatch has been told by patients even private dental practices are now refusing appointments to new patients due to workload.

James Roach, Director of Primary Care for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight said it was hoping to keep NHS dentistry in Freshwater but the NHS funded Dentaid mobile dental unit may visit the area to offer further provision in the interim.

mydentist said all planned appointments before October 31st would go ahead as planned.

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