HEALTH bosses said they are “exploring options” to see how NHS dental services can be provided in Basingstoke as patients are forced to travel miles to find one outside of the town. 

The news comes after patients at Chequers Dental Practice were told it is stopping NHS treatments from May, forcing them to fork out for private care or lose their place at the surgery.

A letter sent to patients at Chequers Dental Practice from Dr Milad Shadrooh, known in the media as the Singing Dentist because of his songs promoting oral health, said he had made the “difficult decision to cease providing NHS dental care”.

READ MORE: Singing Dentist Basingstoke surgery stopping NHS services

Patients told the Gazette that they have been unable to find another NHS dentist in the town.

Of the 22 dentist surgeries listed in Basingstoke and Deane, none state they are taking on new NHS patients, according to details on the NHS dentist finder website.

A spokesperson for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: “We are exploring options around how NHS dental services can be provided locally in Basingstoke, working with existing dental practices in the area, following the announcement from the Singing Dentist Practice in Basingstoke. We will keep patients informed as this progresses.”

Data from NHS England showed that in Hampshire there was a reduction of 49 NHS dentists in 2020-21, representing a six per cent decrease.

Patients at Chequers Dental Practice have been told they can only remain at the surgery if they pay for monthly private care costing between £10 and £17.50.

It will offer free care to patients aged 10 and under who have a fee-paying registered parent at the practice.

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The spokesperson for the ICB advised patients in Basingstoke looking for an NHS dentist to use the NHS website which is “updated frequently”.

They added: “There are practices in Hampshire, that currently provide additional sessions for urgent needs and this includes Stratfield Road Dental Practice, in Basingstoke.”

However, the spokesperson said the nearest dentist to Basingstoke taking on new NHS patients is at Alton Dental, in Alton – more than 12 miles away.

Janet Aris, a 71-year-old grandmother from Thyme Close, in Chineham, said she is unable to afford private dentist care on a state pension and has been unable to find another NHS provider in the town.

She told the Gazette: “As soon as I got the letter I looked for another NHS dentist but the nearest one was 14 miles away in Aldershot. By the time I phoned the spaces were gone.”

The mother-of-two, who is retired from a job in customer services, said her daughter moved to Basingstoke in July and has been trying to find an NHS dentist ever since.

She added: “The state of dentistry in Basingstoke is horrendous. It is such a shock to find out in this time of crisis when we are counting every penny to find £20 a month for a dental plan.

“I feel disenfranchised. Why can we no longer receive dental care on the NHS and how are we going to afford private care? I’m so worried. I’ve been with them for 20 years and have gone every six months without fail and I feel completely let down. There will be people worse off than me.”

Chequers Dental Surgery has been asked for a comment.

To find an NHS dentist click here.