Rochdale's Bupa Dental Care practice to close on 30 June

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

Bupa Dental Care, Rochdale

The Rochdale Bupa Dental Care practice – which provides private and NHS dental treatments including emergency appointments – will be closing on 30 June.

The move comes as Bupa plans to close, sell or merge a number of its practices across the UK, which it says is down to a lack of dentists to deliver NHS care in the UK, in addition to increased running costs caused by inflation and high energy prices.

Bupa says that, despite significant investment by Bupa Dental Care, the business has been unable to recruit enough dentists to deliver NHS care in many practices for months, and in some cases, years.

Mark Allan, General Manager for Bupa Dental Care, said: “As a leading dental provider in the UK, our priority must be to enable patients to receive the care they need.

“For the majority of affected practices, this decision will allow commissioners to procure local providers for the NHS contract, tailoring services and investment to the needs of the local community, thereby providing a better opportunity for patients to continue access to NHS dental services.”

Bupa says it will help provide resources to help patients find alternative local providers. It has not confirmed if NHS patients can transfer to another Bupa provider as an NHS patient or if this must be done as a private patient.

Rochdale Online has contacted Bupa for clarification.

For practices that are due to close, Bupa will be handing back the dental contract to the NHS, which will allow commissioners to procure a new provider.

Bupa will also redeploy affected colleagues where possible.

Mark continued: “We fully understand the impact this decision has on our patients and our people within these practices.

“This decision has not been taken lightly and closure is a last resort. Despite our continued efforts, the dental industry is facing a number of significant and systemic challenges that are placing additional pressure on providing patient care, in particular recruiting dentists to deliver NHS dental care.

“This decision enables us to focus our efforts on high-quality, continued sustainable care for patients across our wider portfolio.”