PATIENTS of a dental practice in Rhyl have been left worried after being told that four of its self-employed dentists will be withdrawing from NHS services.

Dentists at the “mydentist” clinic, on Elwy Street, are to move to an independent model from January 1, 2024.

But residents have told the Journal that they are unsure how they will be afford its new membership packages, or indeed find an alternative dental practice in the area.

Extracts from a letter, circulated to patients and shown to the Journal, read: “It has become apparent that some changes need to be made to the way I practice, to ensure I can continue to offer the highest level of care my patients deserve.

“I have taken the decision to move away from the NHS system in its current format. From January 1, 2024, I will be withdrawing from NHS dental services and instead moving to an independent model.

“The decision to make this change has been a difficult one, but necessary to allow me to continue to provide a high-quality service.

“This change will allow me to spend more time with my patients, maintaining and improving their dental health, whilst also reducing waiting times.”

While the practice says it is unable to offer any new NHS appointments between now and December 31, it added that it will introduce a new dental membership plan.

Those who sign up to “annual care membership” will pay £8.33 and have one dental health examination per year.

Patients who choose its “routine care membership” will pay £16.60 and receive two dental health examinations per year.

Reacting to the news, one resident said: “Both my husband and I have good jobs, but with three children, we will be paying fees that we cannot afford for the recommended packages for our family.

“Do they not realize that Rhyl is one of the most deprived areas in the UK and Europe, and that there is currently a cost of living crisis?”

Another added: “I cannot find a dentist in the area who will take on new NHS patients, even in Colwyn Bay or Llanrwst.

“This is not very good for older people who can’t afford private treatment.”

A third said: “I will ultimately have no dentist. In the current climate, I can't afford to pay a monthly plan, let alone pay privately.

“There is no NHS dentist available in the Denbighshire area, even for children.”

Meanwhile, a fourth patient added: “The danger, as I see it, will be that the NHS will be run down by stealth in the coming years.

“I will shop around and find an alternative dentist out of principle. It would be nice to find out the truth as to why Elwy are taking this route.”

In response, a spokesperson for mydentist said: “NHS dentistry is facing unprecedented pressure which, since the pandemic, has resulted in many clinicians choosing to move away from providing NHS treatments.

“Four of our self-employed dentists at our practice in Rhyl have made the same difficult decision.

“However, we would like to reassure our patients that the practice remains committed to providing NHS care.

“We are doing everything we can to recruit more NHS dentists and we continue to offer affordable private treatments to ensure as many patients as possible can get access to the care they need.”