Swindon dental practice confirms switch to private services
The owners of a dental practice in Swindon have confirmed that NHS services will no longer be available to patients.
Clyde House dental surgery is switching to private dental care, leaving patients facing a difficult task to find NHS providers in the area. Jennifer Norris and her partner, Andy Fant, are two of those affected by the news. The couple has attended the Bath Road practice for six years but will now have to pay more to stay on as patients once it changes to private dentistry. Jennifer was informed that she would no longer be able to see her NHS dentist in February and Andy recently discovered that his dentist at the same practice would not be offering appointments from July.
The move has left patients disappointed, with a severe shortage of NHS dental places for new patients available in Swindon and the surrounding area. Local practices already have waiting lists and there are no surgeries accepting new NHS adult patients.
Andy said that he is in a fortunate position and can afford to sign up to the Denplan programme, which is available at Clyde House at a cost of £13.25 per month but suggested that most others affected by the news may struggle. He questioned how long it will be before dental treatment becomes a luxury that only very wealthy people can afford.
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