Bupa Dental Care Poole to close this summer amid 'challenges'

Bupa Dental Care Poole, in Madeira Road, will close its doors on Friday, June 30. 

The practice said it will do its “very best” to complete scheduled procedures before this date.

Bupa in Poole (Image: Daily Echo)

General manager for Bupa Dental Care, Mark Allan, 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.”

Read more: New private dental practice opens in Southbourne

Mr Allan added the decision to close the practice was “not taken lightly” and that he fully understands the impact it has on patients. 

“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,” he added. 

Bupa, which provides NHS and private dental care, recently announced 85 practices in the UK will be closed, sold or merged later this year, bringing the total number of practices in the UK down to 365. 

Bupa said it would be handing back the dental contract to the NHS for practices that are set to close meaning commissioners can find a new provider to continue treating patients in the area.

Read more: Dorset residents unable to register with NHS dentists

The provider added it had not been able to recruit enough dentists to deliver NHS care in many practices for months and in some cases years due to national shortages. 

Bupa recently announced a revenue of £14bn, up seven per cent from 2021, at constant exchange rates with year-on-year growth.