Some Northern Ireland patients face having their dental practice axed in a move set to worsen the ongoing crisis in accessing NHS dentists.
Bupa Dental Care is set to cut 85 dental practices in a move that will affect 1,200 staff across the UK, amid a national shortage of dentists and “systemic” challenges across the industry.
Among the practices earmarked for closure are Total Orthodontics in Downpatrick and Bupa Dental Care on Campsie Road in Omagh.
Read more: Vital support maintained for Northern Ireland dentists but further action needed
Bupa, which provides NHS and private dental care, said the 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 healthcare group said patients at the affected practices have not been able to access the NHS dental service they need. The move will affect both employed and self-employed staff, representing more than a tenth of its 9,000-strong workforce.
Bupa said it would redeploy affected staff where possible to different areas of the business. The provider has not been able to recruit enough dentists to deliver NHS care in many practices for months and in some cases years, it said.
National shortages of dentists have been worsened by the NHS contract model, and because of an increased demand and complexity of care since the Covid pandemic, Bupa warned. The industry has also been affected by inflation and higher energy prices, increasing the cost to run patient services.
Mark Allan, general manager for Bupa Dental Care, said: “As a leading dental provider in the UK, our priority must be to enable patients to receive the care they need.
“For the majority of affected practices, this decision will allow commissioners to procure local providers for the NHS contract, tailoring services and investment to the needs of the local community, thereby providing a better opportunity for patients to continue access to NHS dental services.”
Bupa said it would be handing back the dental contract to the NHS for practices that are set to close, meaning commissioners can find a new provider to continue treating patients in the area.
Mr Allan added: “We fully understand the impact today’s decision has on our patients and our people within these practices. This decision has not been taken lightly and closure is a last resort.
“Despite our continued efforts, the dental industry is facing a number of significant and systemic challenges that are placing additional pressure on providing patient care, in particular recruiting dentists to deliver NHS dental care.”
The British Dental Association said that the service is “approaching the end of the road” unless the Government and opposition outline a clear plan to reform and properly fund NHS dentistry.
Shawn Charlwood, Chair of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee said: “These mass closures are just the tip of the iceberg. NHS dentistry is a service built on sand. Years of failed contracts and underfunding have taken their toll and more will inevitably follow.
“All sides need to wake up and set out a plan to save this service.”
The Department of Health recently confirmed that the fee enhancements for high street NHS dentists will continue into the first quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.
The £14.30 Enhanced Children's Examination Fee implemented in January also carries over for another three months into Q1 but will then cease. This enhancement is aimed at easing the financial barriers and dental access difficulties impacting young children.
A further review will take place to consider the Department's position on the 10% enhancement for the remainder of 2023/24.
In a letter to all general dental practitioners in Northern Ireland, a DoH spokesperson said it understood "that uncertainty over longer term arrangements causes issues for practices, however due to the current financial challenges facing the Department, it is not possible to provide a further commitment at this time."
The BDA has acknowledged the efforts made to maintain vital financial support for the struggling service but say continued support will be required beyond June.
It comes as some dentists have been going private because of the costs of delivering NHS dental care. In February, the BDA warned that the future of NHS dentistry in Northern Ireland "hangs in the balance" as years of tighter margins and punishing schedules has forced many into the private sector.
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