NHS patients in Long Stratton left without options for emergency dental care following closure of Manor House Dental Surgery

Patients in Long Stratton have been left with no choice but to go private or go without after the town’s only NHS dental practice closed last week.

With 90 per cent of NHS dental practices in Britain not accepting new patients, those who were using Manor House Dental Surgery are now facing a “grim” reality, a councillor has warned.

The practice, in The Street, closed its doors for the final time on Friday, August 5.

Owners Simply Smile also run a private dental practice, Netherton, less than 200 yards away on The Street. It is currently unclear whether this will remain open or not.

With Norfolk and Waveney amongst the worst affected areas for dentist shortages in the country, many of Manor House’s former patients have been warned that it will be “impossible” for them to join a new practice.

Long Stratton councillor Alison Thomas said there was little advice she could offer to her worried constituents, beyond trying to make sure they do not find themselves in need of emergency treatment.

“It’s pretty grim really,” said Cllr Thomas, who also chairs the Norfolk County Council’s health and overview scrutiny committee.

“Dentistry is already under huge pressure and people are struggling to find a NHS dentist and this just makes it even worse.

“Manor House was only treating emergencies but at least we had an emergency service – now all we have got is a massive void.

“If people aren’t in a position to pay for private treatment, where do they go?

“If someone says there’s an appointment you can get in Harleston or Diss and people don’t have transport, how do they get there?

“I’m having to say to people that the only advice I can give is to be fastidious about your dental hygiene.”

Healthwatch Norfolk, the county’s health watchdog, said the closure was only going to exacerbate what is already dire situation for patients.

Chief executive Alex Stewart said: “We are concerned about the closure of the Manor House Surgery in Long Stratton and the impact this will have on patients bearing in mind the difficulties securing non-emergency NHS dental care.

“Over 50 per cent of our inquiries are now about this issue and the loss of this practice is going to leave even more patients struggling to get treatment.

“We are continually impressing on health leaders and Norfolk’s MPs the gravity of the situation.

“While a national problem, recent investigations have shown Norfolk is one of
the locations where joining a practice as an
NHS patient is impossible at the current
time.

“Healthwatch Norfolk continues to press at a regional and national level for an urgent plan
to deal with this problem which is likely to have an impact on the oral health of people in
the county for generations without
immediate action.”

A spokesman for the NHS East of England added: “We are committed to ensuring everyone can access high quality dental care across Norfolk, and are working closely with dental providers to improve access to services, including inviting NHS contract holders to take on additional activity.

“We are looking into the closure of Manor House dental surgery and will be working with contract holders to outline how we can provide accessible and effective dental provision in the area.”

Simply Smile did not respond to The Diss Express’ approach for comment.