Church street dental practice in Attleborough has been forced to close its doors to NHS patients.

A statement released on the practice’s website said the changes were due to “a chronic lack of investment by successive governments" and losing two of their dentists.

Due to the “rapidly rising costs” the practice has been unable to fill the two roles.

From November 30, 2022, the practice will no longer be seeing NHS patients. After this date the practice says it will be focusing on private care.

The practice has already introduced a patient membership plan which it is encouraging patients to join.

Speaking to Eastern Daily Press, Alex Stewart, chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk has warned: “We are concerned more practices in Norfolk will take the decision to see only private non-emergency patients due to the current format of the NHS dental contracts.

"There needs a realistic review to take account of the needs of patients while ensuring dentists are remunerated realistically based on the people they see and the work they do.

"There is also an issue around attracting dentists to Norfolk and keeping them here. We are aware of some practices which would extent their NHS list but cannot find the staff to help them achieve this."

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