Leiston dental practice set to close due to staff shortages
Bupa Dental has confirmed that its Leiston dental practice will be closing due to a shortage of dentists.
The clinic, which is located in Crown Street, will shut at the end of March. The firm had been trying to recruit new members of staff to join the Suffolk practice, but unfortunately, they couldn’t find any new dentists to take up the vacant positions.
In a letter sent out to patients, area manager, Yvonne Frattaroli explained that Bupa had taken the very difficult decision to close the Leiston practice on the 31st of March. The chain has been experiencing recruitment problems in the area for a while, and sadly, the shortage of dentists meant that it was impossible to keep the surgery open. Adverts have been placed over the course of several months, but the positions have never been filled. Patients have been advised to contact the nearest Bupa Dental Care practice in Colchester to find out more about available places.
The closure of the Bupa clinic will mean that there is just one dental surgery, mydentist, in the town. There are approximately 5,000 patients in the area.
Bupa Dental is hoping to complete all courses of treatment before the end of March, and emergency dental care will also be available for those registered with the Leiston practice.
Recruitment problems are becoming increasingly commonplace in many parts of the UK, with a shortage of dentists outside major cities.
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