Manx Care provides update as salaried dentist to provide service from temporary unit
Manx Care says Smile Dental is working towards recommencing dental services in Ramsey before the end of the year, albeit from an alternative premises.
The practice previously operated out of Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital before it was relocated due to issues within the wider hospital building.
In an update, Manx Care says further information about where the practice will recommence its services can be expected shortly,
It means Smile Dental's planned move into the dental unit at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital will not proceed, and the lease for those premises has been relinquished.
Registered patients will be able to continue accessing their routine dental care through the practice when services recommence.
In the meantime, Manx Care says it will continue to provide urgent and emergency dental treatment for Smile Dental patients as required.
Use of Temporary Dental Unit
Meanwhile, with Smile Dental returning to alternative premises, Manx Care says it will use the temporary dental unit at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital to increase access and provision to NHS dental services for the duration of the agreement.
To that end, a salaried dentist will commence providing services from the RDCH dental unit from the week commencing 2 November.
The health body also says it is actively seeking to recruit a further dentist to support patients requiring access to dental care.
Initially, the Manx Care service will provide appointments for:
- Patients from the Northern locality who are currently on the NHS dental waiting list. These patients will be contacted directly by Manx Care and do not need to make contact separately.
- Unregistered patients requiring emergency dental treatment.
- Smile Dental patients requiring urgent or emergency care until Smile Dental resumes routine services from its new premises.
The return of Smile Dental’s services, alongside the introduction of the additional Manx Care dental service will help reduce waiting times and increase access to dental care for patients.
A Manx Care spokesperson says: "While we are pleased that Smile Dental is progressing plans to resume services in Ramsey, we have also taken the opportunity to introduce additional NHS dental provision from Ramsey District Cottage Hospital site.
"The combination of Smile Dental’s return and the delivery of additional access by Manx Care will increase the overall availability of dental care on the Island and help improve access for patients who have been waiting for treatment.
"Manx Care is committed to the development of health and care communities and understands that people are the centre of all that we do.”
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