A high street dental practice has made the decision to "surrender" its NHS contract and offer only private care from the start of September. Keynsham Dental Care will continue to see NHS patients until August 31 before the drastic change.
It comes as almost all dental practices across the Bristol region are turning away new NHS patients as the pressures on the NHS become even more overwhelming. The change will see patients have the option to change to an adult plan which starts from £20 per month as opposed to the standard pay-per-treatment system in place with the NHS.
Read more: Almost all dental practices across Bristol turning away new adult NHS patients
The change has been made as the dental practice believes it is no longer viable to offer the care and service patients have become accustomed to. They will ensure that they don't compromise on the care provided despite the termination of their NHS contract.
Signing up to become a member of the practice will allow patients to get regular examinations, hygiene visits and X-rays, a 10 per cent discount on routine procedures and more. A spokesman for Keynsham Dental Care said: "As you may be aware Keynsham Dental Care has been committed to providing an NHS dental service for many years. However due to recent changes to our NHS Contract, we feel it is no longer viable to offer you the care and service you have become accustomed to as an NHS patient and will be surrendering our NHS contract at the end of August 2022.
"Our decision will allow us to look after you in the way we feel you deserve without any uncertainty. It will mean we can spend the required time together for your care, offer regular examinations, reduce appointment waiting times and offer a greater choice in the variety of treatments we are able to deliver.
"You will be safe in the knowledge that you have a dedicated dental team to look after you long into the future. We wish to treat you as a valued patient rather than a target. We have come to this decision with a heavy heart and we are fully aware that it is a very difficult time for everyone, but we do not want to compromise on the care we provide.
"The limitations of being a part of an increasingly overstretched NHS means we would be at risk of doing this. Working independently of the NHS will allow us to care for you as a member of our practice in a more relaxed environment."
