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Jun 2020

Last Updated: 08/06/2020

Business

Less than a half of Yorkshire dental practices re-open today

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 08 Jun, 2020

Concerns about PPE and limited capacity for appointments means many Harrogate dental practices will only be able to provide a skeleton service

Less than a half of dentist practices in the region will open today despite the lifting of restrictions- many only providing a skeleton service.

However the British Dental Association (BDA) have conducted a poll which reported that only 42% of Yorkshire's dentists will re-open.

Amongst those opening is Swan Dental Practice in Harrogate, their principal dentist Richard Bannister said:

"We won't be running a full service straight away as we will only have one surgery open at a time. We will be focusing on the people who have had problems in the last three months, but right now we will be unable to do big procedures such as root canals as anything that uses aerosol sprays has been severely limited under the guidelines."

Further data from the BDA has said that 54% of practices in Yorkshire don't have the necessary PPE to resume face-to-face care. At the Swan Dental Practise, Mr Bannister said:

"We were very slow in receiving guidance from the government about PPE, but we have adequate supply for now unless the guidance changes. It has been challenging for us as there have been increases in the price of equipments, masks for example have gone up approximately 500% in price".

Debenhams have announced their Harrogate store will re-open on the 15th June.

North Yorkshire County Council has invested £1.3 million in an attempt to encourage residents to walk and cycle.

The BDA Chair Mick Armstrong warned:

“Those expecting dentistry to magically return on Monday will find only a skeleton service. Practices reopening across Yorkshire and the Humber now face fewer patients and higher costs and will struggle to meet demand. Dentists returning to work still lack the support offered to our neighbours on the high street, and even clarity on key worker status when it comes to childcare. Ministers must change tack if dentistry is going to survive the new normal.”

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Less than a half of Yorkshire dental practices re-open today

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