Health bosses confirm delay in new dental contract for Northumberland villages following unsuccessful tendering process
Health bosses in Northumberland have confirmed a further delay in the launch of a new dental contract after no successful bids were received during the tendering process.
Last year, NHS England approved a new 7-year contract, which would cover the villages of Rothbury and Hadston, but the timeframe has now been revised. A small number of bids was received for the new NHS contract, which has an extension option following the initial 7-year period, but the trust has confirmed that there were no suitable bids. The applicants have been provided with feedback on their proposals, and bosses have suggested that the tender will be put out again as soon as possible.
Villagers in the area have been without local dental services since 2017 when services ceased at Coquetdale Dental Practice. The dentist in charge, Simon Francis, was unable to continue to meet the terms of the agreed contract due to personal circumstances, and NHS England put a new contract out to tender. So far, the pursuit of new dentists or dental practices to take over the contract has been unsuccessful, but bosses are hoping to have services up and running by the end of 2019. This represents a delay of around 6 months.
Patients looking to register with a practice in the meantime are advised to contact surgeries in Morpeth, Alnwick and Ashington.
