Third dental provider steps in to help Portsmouth patients left without a dentist
A third dental provider has stepped in to help Portsmouth dental patients, who have been left in the lurch.
Thousands of people were left without a dentist when Colosseum Dental pulled the plug on its NHS contracts. The chain, which operated three practices within the city, ceased to provide NHS care earlier this year, resulting in around 10,000 patients facing an uncertain future.
In the weeks and months following the unexpected announcement, NHS England started work to identify temporary solutions. Having confirmed arrangements with Bupa Dental Care and the University of Portsmouth’s Dental Academy, a third provider has now been unveiled. Perfect Smile, which runs surgeries in Cosham and North End, will now provide NHS dental services on a temporary basis.
The temporary contracts are expected to run for the next 12 months, and NHS England is now focused on establishing long-term alternatives to ensure patients have access to NHS services once those contracts expire. The terms of the agreement are still being ironed out with the university, but services are expected to be up and running in the near future.
In light of the actions of Colosseum Dental, a chain based in Switzerland, the NHS is now exploring compensation options.
Patients will be updated about any progress made in appointing new long-term contractors, and details of available places can be found on the NHS Choices website.
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