Action demanded as dental surgery limits NHS care

The North Tyneside practice said it was facing recruitment difficulties

Concern over a dental surgery's decision to stop taking on NHS patients has prompted calls for a solution to be found "urgently".

Verne Road Dental Practice in North Shields blamed financial and staffing strains for its move to limit NHS access to children, vulnerable adults and those in acute pain.

The North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said it was working with the company, which had seen three dentists leave in the past two months.

In a letter to North Tyneside mayor Karen Clark, Conservative opposition leader Liam Bones said: "Given the urgency of the situation, I am calling on you to immediately convene the North Tyneside Dental Taskforce."

Bones said the meeting "should bring together local dentists, NHS England representatives, public health officials, and councillors from all parties".

The practice has informed patients it would use its "small NHS contract" to prioritise the selected group with everyone else invited to sign up for a private plan.

It said it was facing challenges including "funding, increasing staff and material costs as well as recruitment difficulties" and was having to make "crucial decisions to ensure our practice survives".

Reassuring dental patients

Many patients had expressed their confusion and concerns online, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Tynemouth's Labour MP Sir Alan Campbell urged the surgery to provide urgent treatments at least.

People commenting on his social media post said the changes were "devastating" and it was "impossible to find NHS dentist in the area".

North Tyneside Council director of public health, Wendy Burke, said she was concerned about access to NHS dental services in the area and about the impact of the decision "now and in the future".

ICB chief procurement and contracting officer David Gallagher said the practice was in a difficult situation but "they have not asked to end their contract and they remain an NHS service provider".

"We are working with the provider with a view to fully understanding the issues, offering support where possible and to provide clarity and reassurance to patients," he said.