Hull Dentist Forces to Move Following “Ridiculous” Rent Increase

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A dentist from Bransholme, Hull, is being forced to leave the practice he has worked in for 16 years because of a “ridiculous” increase in rent.

Russell Davies has treated thousands of local people at his surgery in Goodhart Road, but he will be forced to move when the existing practice is knocked down and re-constructed as a brand new health centre.

Mr Davies said that the rent will increase seven-fold and explained that he simply could not afford the annual fee of £80,000 and claimed that the price was “ridiculous” for an empty room. Mr Davies is the only dentist at the centre so when the new building opens in August there will be no dental surgery, leaving around 2,500 patients without an NHS dentist.

Mr Davies said that he would be forced to offer home visits, as he will no longer have a surgery to work from. He added that he is not even sure why there is a need for a new health centre, as the existing facility is perfectly suitable.

The new health centre will be run by Citycare, which is a partnership between the Sewell Group, NHS Hull and the local Primary Care Trust.

The news has angered local residents, many of whom are old. One man, aged 86, from Bransholme, said that he had been visiting the practice for 30 years and will no longer be able to make use of the service.

A spokeswoman from NHS Hull said that the trust had invited Mr Davies to work at the new health centre and it was his decision whether or not to accept the offer. The current building is used by dentists and GPs, but GPs are reimbursed through the Primary Care Trust, while dentists pay rent directly.

The trust has assured patients that alternative options will be found in the event of patients being left without a dentist.

 

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