MP demands answers over dental surgery double blow in Bognor

MP Nick Gibb has tabled parliamentary questions to Mr Burnham to ask why the surgeries at Flansham Park Health Centre and Maywood Healthcare Centre were not asked to bid to carry on serving their thousands of patients.

His campaign on behalf of around 4,200 people has also involved two letters about the matter to John Wilderspin, the chief executive of NHS West Sussex.

Mr Gibb said: "Many people are very upset at the decision by the

NHS in West Sussex to end dental services at Maywood and at Flansham Park.

"Both of these dental practices are highly regarded by their

patients who are angry they now have to apply to other dentists in the area.

"It is clear the dentists at these practices were not asked whether they wished to bid for a contract to continue to provide dental services.

"Thousands of pounds have been spent equipping the two practices as dental surgeries with state of the art equipment.

"I believe the NHS needs to rethink this decision, listen to local people and at the very least give the two practices the option of being able to continue providing dental services."

Mr Gibb visited the Maywood dental practice on Hawthorn Road last Friday to meet the centre's practice manager, Tracey Osborne, to discuss the decision by NHS West Sussex to end its dental services and those at Flansham Park in Felpham from August 31.

He also met Maywood's dental reception nurse, Gwen Miller.

Mr Gibb said NHS West Sussex justified ended the contract to provide general dental services at the two practices because it is providing general dental services at other dentists around Bognor Regis and Middleton, following a re-tendering of contracts.

However, it was clear the dentists working at Maywood or Flansham Park were not asked to bid for this work.

He added: "Had they been invited to do so, it is very possible the practices could have continued."

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