An over-performing dental practice in Newport has locked-down its services and is turning patients away after using up its funding.
Newport Dental Practice is only seeing patients in emergencies, closing the door on appointments for check-ups and basic treatments.
Patients with appointments before April, will not be seen and will have to re-book. And new patients may also be dropped from the books as a solution to the funding debacle.
The dental practice has been forced to take action after spending all of its allocated funding for NHS treatment, handed out by Telford &?Wrekin?Primary Care Trust each April, by treating an increased number of patients.
And there is no new funding available until the 2010 cash is given out next month, when the situation will return to normal.
Two of the three dentists are now working part-time basis with practice owner Jonathan Preece attending to emergencies only.
Mr Preece is now calling for an improved contract with dental commissioners at the PCT, hoping his situation will apply pressure.
He said: “My wish is to provide NHS dental care throughout the entire year to as many members of the public who wish to access it.
“The advice I received from the British Dental Association was not to embark on any new courses of treatment. Consequently, check up appointments have been postponed until the start of the new contract year in April.
“We have been hugely successful in improving access needs by accepting over 2,100 new patients during the last three years.
“We are not sufficiently funded to look after so many patients.”
NHS Telford and Wrekin Lead Commissioner for Primary Care Anna Charalambous-Green said: “The PCT will continue to work with the practice in question to ensure that patients’ needs are met and are at the heart of the services delivered.
“All dental practices are fully aware that no funding would be made available for over-performance this year.”
By Sam Pinnington