A DENTAL practice is closing for the last time today, raising fears that there will be ‘no dental support’ for the majority of a city’s population.
Bupa Dental Care in St George’s Street, Millom, is closing for the last time today after the practice was unable to recruit permanent dentists to the branch.
Claire Pearson, Regional Director of Operations at Bupa Dental Care, said: “We have made the difficult decision to close our dental practice in Millom.
“Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to recruit permanent dentists to our practice in Millom due to the critical national shortage of dentists to provide NHS care.
“I would like to assure patients that we are working with the NHS to help them find a new dentist.”
A Bupa Dental Care spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, Bupa Dental Care Millom will be permanently closing on March 31, 2022.
“If you are a patient of the practice, you will have already been contacted regarding your options.
“If you have any questions regarding the closing, or if you need an emergency appointment, you can always contact us until the closing date and we will be happy to help you.”
Bob Kelly, a councilor in Millom, raised fears that the closure of the dental office will mean there will be no dental support for Millom residents.
“Dental surgery for NHS patients is vital for Millom,” he said.
“Many local residents cannot afford private treatment (which is in fact not available locally given the long waiting lists) and so the closure means there will be no dental support for the majority of the population of Millom and Haverigg.”
Trudy Harrison, MP for Copeland, said she was working with government ministers to resolve continuing issues over the local’s provision of dental care in the Millom area.
She said: ‘I have been contacted by a number of constituents who are understandably concerned about the impending closure of Millom’s dental practice.
“For some time I have been working with government ministers and the local NHS to address continuing issues around the lack of dental services in our area and the inability to recruit dentists to provide NHS care.
“NHS England has been actively looking at access to NHS dental care in North and West Cumbria, with a view to increasing capacity, so they can start addressing these issues around access to services.
“I will continue to pursue these discussions at every opportunity.”
