Letter to patients: NHS access, SpaDental Plymouth
You have been directed to this page via a text message because we have not been able to get in touch with you via your email address. We have important information about your NHS access to the practice.
Please read the letter below:
Letter: Your access to NHS treatment at SpaDental Plymouth
We are very sorry to be sending this message to you on behalf of SpaDental Plymouth to update you on the status of your access to NHS treatment.
Over the last year we have been working hard to recruit new dentists, unfortunately we have not managed to contract dentists willing to provide NHS care. Consequently, we must reduce the number of patients on our NHS database.
SpaDental has sought creative ways to try to continue to serve our NHS patients, investing in qualified dentists from overseas who are registered to work in the UK as dental therapists. Yet, because the NHS stipulates that a dentist must open an oral health plan for all NHS patients, we cannot utilise their skills.
Unfortunately, you are receiving this letter as notification that we have removed your name from our NHS patient list. This means you will no longer be able to book a new NHS appointment with us and, as of 14th March, patients with a check-up booked will be charged the private patient fee. We will, however, honour incomplete treatment plans, taking patients who are mid-treatment to their agreed outcome. Children will remain on the register unless their parents request to remove them.
Your options for further dental care are to:
- Join the SpaDental Plymouth Essentials patient plan, starting at £14.87 per month. The entry level Essential Plan includes an annual check-up with a dentist and one hygienist appointment a year, as well as 10% off restorative treatment prices.
- Register as a private patient at SpaDental Plymouth, paying for your treatments as and when you need them.
- Re-register yourself on the NHS dental waiting list by email to: accessdentalhelpline@nhs.com, or phone 03330 063300. Unfortunately, we understand that the waiting time currently exceeds two years and may well be over three years due to limited NHS dental provision in the Southwest.
Please register your preference by following the link here to fill in a short form.
Please note: We kindly ask you not to phone the practice to discuss your options. The local practice staff do not have the background information to discuss your needs.
You may review your options in more detail on our website:
If you are unable to access the website, you may phone 01752 825959 but please expect to have to wait in a queue.
On behalf of SpaDental, we’d like to say how truly sorry we are to have to end your access to our NHS services, and sincerely thank you for your understanding.
