Plans to Close Bedfordshire Dental Clinic Scrapped

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NHS Bedfordshire has scrapped plans to close a dental clinic in Leighton Buzzard, it has been confirmed.

The community dental clinic on Bassett Road was due to close, but the trust has decided to keep it open after inviting patients to share their views on the issue. The Trust Board has also agreed proposals, which will assure the long-term future of community dental services in the county.

The Community Dental Service has 13 practices across Bedfordshire and Luton and the practices offer specialist care for patients who cannot access a general NHS dentist and patients with special needs. Some of the clinics operate part-time and are run from buildings that no longer meet the requirements for decontamination and disabled access. As a result of this, NHS Bedfordshire submitted proposals to upgrade the clinics and secure the long-term future of the community service.

Originally, five clinics were to be closed as part of the upgrading process, but the trust decided to keep the Leighton Buzzard clinic open because patient feedback confirmed that many people were worried because the nearest clinic was 10 miles away.

Tony Medwell, Head of Primary Care Commissioning at NHS Bedfordshire, said that the changes would enable the community care system to be more effective and efficient. He added that feedback from patients had encouraged executives to think again about the closure of the Leighton Buzzard clinic and it has been confirmed that the clinic will stay open.

 

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