Concerns raised as Rhyl dental practice hands back NHS contract

Concerns have been raised after it was revealed that thousands of people in North Wales will no longer be registered with an NHS dentist.

It follows the news that the MyDentist Practice has decided to hand back its NHS contract from the end of the year

In recent years, a number of NHS dental practices have closed in the area, leading to the issue being raised in the Senedd by Clwyd West MS Darren Millar.

The Conservative MS said the move would impact on people living in his constituency as well as residents the Vale of Clwyd.

Speaking in the Senedd chamber yesterday, he said: “This will mean that thousands more people are no longer registered with an NHS dentist.

“That’s on top of the Ruthin Dental Practice handing back its contract earlier in the year, the White Gables Dental Practice in Colwyn Bay handing back its contract in June, and the Total Orthodontics contract in Colwyn Bay also being axed.

“It is clear that there are serious problems with the NHS contract reform that the government has embarked upon, and this is forcing more and more dentists out of NHS dentistry.

“We need an urgent statement, because this is becoming a very serious and acute problem indeed and, if we’re not careful, no-one will be able to access an NHS dentist in North Wales or elsewhere.”

In response, Welsh Government Minister Lesley Griffiths said: “The Minister for Health and Social Services does keep us updated frequently with regard to dentistry provision right across Wales.

“As you’re aware, we’ve worked very hard with dentists right across Wales in relation to the new dental contract, and there are 26 out of 400that have not taken part in the new contract, which is a very small four per cent.”