Bupa Dental Care is set to cut 85 dental practices across the UK - including three in the North East.
The healthcare group said patients at the affected practices have not been able to access the NHS dental service they need. Bupa, which provides NHS and private dental care, said the 85 practices will be closed, sold or merged later this year, bringing the total number of practices in the UK down to 365.
All the practices will remain open as usual in the meantime. The move will affect 1,200 employed and self-employed staff, representing more than a tenth of its 9,000-strong workforce.
