Popular Swindon dental practice to close
A popular dental practice in Swindon is set to close this autumn, it has been confirmed.
Thomas, Huws and Associates will shut in September as both dentists prepare to retire. Any appointments that have been made from September onwards will be cancelled and patients who are currently undergoing treatment will be prioritised in the coming daysa.
Patients who are having treatment will be contacted to arrange appointments to complete treatment courses before the practice closes.
The practice, which provides NHS dental services, has an excellent reputation. News of the impending closure has already caused concern among patients, as there are currently no NHS surgeries in Swindon accepting new patients, according to Healthwatch.
The team at Thomas, Huws and Associates has written to patients to provide information about the closure and advice about making alternative arrangements. A spokesperson for NHS England and NHS Improvement in the South West encouraged patients to contact NHS 111 or visit the NHS website to find a local provider for urgent care if required. The website also contains information about practices that have dental places available in the local area.
National director of Healthwatch England, Louise Ansari, suggested that most patients will be unable to find practices that are accepting new NHS patients if their current surgery closes or switches to private care. There is currently a shortage of NHS places and NHS teams are working through backlogs, which is increasing waiting times. Ms Ansari said that the lack of NHS appointments has created a “two-tier dental system,” which “widens inequalities and damages the health of the most disadvantaged communities.”
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