Closing practice to be taken over by NHS dentist

The island has lost five dentists providing NHS treatment in the last 18 months

An island community has been told it will not lose access to NHS dental treatment.

James Roach, director of primary care for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said the mydentist practice, which is due to close in Freshwater, on the Isle of Wight will be taken over by an NHS dentist.

The island has lost five dentists providing NHS treatment in the last 18 months and none of the remaining services are taking new patients.

Mr Roach told BBC Radio Solent that the Isle of Wight is "a priority".

His comments come after residents from the village started a petition last month to save its NHS service.

Mr Roach said: "I am able to announce that there will be an NHS dentist who will take over the practice in Freshwater."

He added: "We recognise the challenges in terms of coastal communities and the fact that the island hasn't been well served in terms of dental provision historically."

He said there are more dentists who want to open up on the island.

"We're looking at how we can support the recruitment of NHS dentists through something called the 'golden hello'," Mr Roach said.

This is where the service offers a one-off payment to support dentists with their relocation and with starting their new jobs.

He praised the work of Dentaid The Dental Charity and its mobile dental unit, which has served communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, but Mr Roach said they are "committed to creating a more sustainable service model."

He said they will unveil specific plans about how they will improve provisions for dentistry on the island in the coming weeks.