Ramsgate MP raises concerns over dental practice closure
The MP for South Thanet has raised concerns over the closure of a dental practice in Ramsgate.
MP Craig Mackinlay brought up the subject of dental access in Ramsgate at Prime Minister’s Questions after a clinic that provides NHS treatment for 8,000 patients closed. Mr Mackinlay is worried that the closure of the Church Hill practice will leave thousands unable to access routine dental care.
Raising the issue at the House of Commons, Mr Mackinlay said that there were fears that local people would be unable to see a dentist following the closure of one of the town’s main providers. The Church Hill practice closed on Saturday 31st March.
This far, no replacement has been found to take over the contract, meaning that dental patients in Ramsgate face an uncertain future. Currently, NHS England is working with other local practices to provide temporary solutions, but Mr Mackinlay urged the Prime Minister to encourage commissioners to put a more long-term arrangement in place as quickly as possible. In the run-up to the closure, the practice experienced issues related to finances and the lease of the building, which were known to NHS England South East, according to the local MP.
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