NHS patients could be left without a dentist after a Bristol surgery closes at the end of June. Bupa Dental Care St Pauls is one of 85 Bupa dental practices closing nationwide, and patients there have spoken of their struggle to find a replacement.
Debra Newrick and her son have been patients at the practice in St Pauls for the last 12 years, but she said after recently searching for a new dentist, the closest one she could find that was taking on patients was in Wales. Penny Gray, who is also a patient at the St Pauls practice, thought she would be able to join another Bupa Dental Centre but said the nearest one with NHS vacancies was in Chippenham.
Both patients said they felt the St Pauls practice had been operating for several years without enough dentists. Ms Gray, who has been with the practice for the last 20 years, said she understood some had left and not been replaced.
