Criticism as dentist goes private

Over 7,000 NHS patients have been de-registered

A dental surgery has been criticised by a health body for de-registering more than 7,000 NHS patients.

Conwy Local Health Board (LHB) chief executive Wyn Thomas said he was "very surprised" at the decision by the White Gables dental surgery in Colwyn Bay.

The LHB was told of the plan last Friday.

"Given the problems this is going to cause patients I would have expected some warning of this and an explanation for their decision," Mr Thomas said.

Preventative approach

The National Assembly recently agreed a scheme to get dentists off the "item of service payment 'treadmill' to improve services through local contracting arrangements," he added.

The new scheme was based on a more preventative approach to oral health where dentists would be paid for "quality rather than quantity," he said.

Mr Thomas said a number of local practices were "actively looking at this option" with one so far in Abergele signing up to the new arrangement. Conwy LHB funds local health services and offers incentive grants of up to £50,000 to new dentists coming into the area.

The LHB said this latest announcement leaves 40% of people in the area with access to a NHS dentist.

The White Gables surgery was reported on Monday as saying it did not have anything to add to the LHB statement.

The BBC News website has tried, unsuccessfully, to contact it for further comment.