Ramsgate Dental Patients Facing Lengthy Trip for NHS
Around 3,000 dental patients in Ramsgate are facing lengthy trips to see an NHS dentist following a merger between two dental companies.
The merger between Integrated Dental Holdings and Associated Dental Practices has left 3,000 people with no NHS dentist. Patients of the Ramsgate Dental Practice were sent a letter at the end of last week explaining that they would no longer have access to NHS dental care at the surgery because of a merger between IDH and ADP, the company which runs the practice. Patients are now faced with the prospect of having to travel to Herne Bay for treatment.
The merger occurred as a result of an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading, which concluded that IDA had to give up some of its local practices due to regulations surrounding competition.
Linda Archer is one of many patients affected by the situation as she has been registered with the practice for the last five years and said that she is very concerned by the news because it had taken her two years to find an NHS dentist close to her home and that she cannot afford private treatment, but her nearest dentist is now in Herne Bay.
The letter sent to patients revealed that funding for Ramsgate Dental Practice had been withdrawn due to competition rules. Integrated Dental Holdings was found to control too much of the local market and therefore there was no option but to stop offering NHS services at the practice.
Paula Smith, head of dental at NHS Medway and Kent, said that IDH had given three month’s notice, which will enable patients to receive care until the end of August and she added that the current contracts will be re-tendered, but the process will take time and temporary contracts will be arranged to prevent patients from being without NHS services. Patients who are looking to register with an NHS dentist in the area are advised to contact the NHS helpdesk on 0808 238 9797.
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