Dentist NHS targets can not be reached without putting patients and staff at risk

A patients' group says it is concerned over a lack of access to NHS dentists in South Gloucestershire after two surgeries turned private.

Frampton and Flaxpits surgeries say NHS targets can not be reached without putting patients and staff at risk. and they must go private to survive.

Vicky Marriott, of Healthwatch, an independent statutory body representing patients, said not having an option to have NHS care was a "real concern".

In a letter to patients, Dr Dimitri Haddjeri, dentist at Framptom and Flaxpits surgeries, said "target-driven, high-volume dentistry" was "not fit for purpose" and did not put the patient first.

He said NHS targets could not be reached without putting patients and staff at risk.

Ms Marriott said there were "enormous problems" for people trying to find NHS care across South Gloucestershire, Bristol and North Somerset.

"Between July and September this year, in Bristol alone, we've had 73 people contact us saying that they've been emailing or phoning every single dental practice to see if they can get treatment and haven't been able to," she said.

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Source: BBC News, 13 October 2021