Bupa closing 85 dental practices: see the list for the south

Bupa Dental Care is set to cut 85 dental practices in a move that will affect 1,200 staff across the UK, amid a national shortage of dentists and "systemic" challenges across the industry.

The healthcare group said patients at the affected practices have not been able to access the NHS dental service they need.

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

All the practices will remain open as usual in the meantime.

The move will affect 1,200 employed and self-employed staff, representing more than a tenth of its 9,000-strong workforce.

Bupa said it would redeploy affected staff where possible to different areas of the business.

The provider has not been able to recruit enough dentists to deliver NHS care in many practices for months and in some cases years, it said.

Practices earmarked for closure across the south:

Bupa Dental Care Poole, Dorset

Bupa Dental Care Waterlooville, Hampshire

Practices under review across the south:

Bupa Dental Care Rustington, West Sussex

Bupa Dental Care Ryde, Isle of Wight

Bupa Dental Care Seaford, East Sussex

Bupa Dental Care Woolston, Southampton

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