Investigation: ‘Shocking’ waits for NHS dentists in Harrogate district

An investigation by the Stray Ferret has found that just two NHS dentists in the Harrogate district are accepting new patients — and both have a waiting time of at least two-and-a-half years.

Our investigation reveals how acute the problem of dental care is for people on low incomes in the district.

John Ennis, who chairs North Yorkshire County Council‘s scrutiny of health committee, described our findings as “shocking”.

We looked into the availability of free NHS services at the 18 Harrogate district dental practices listed on the NHS website.

Many have not updated their information for years. But they all fall into one or three categories: they have a long waiting list; they have such a long waiting list that they are not taking on new patients; or they no longer hold an NHS contract.

We found of the 18 only MyDentist in Knaresborough and AW Jones Dental Practice in Boroughbridge are taking patients — with wait times of two and a half years and three years respectively.

Read more:

The situation looks like it will get worse: Chatsworth House Dental Centre, one of the few dentists in the area providing NHS services, is proposing to close and move its NHS patients to a dental practice in Starbeck. Chatsworth House has not yet made a formal approach to the NHS but it has revealed its plans in letters to patients.

John Ennis, a Conservative councillor who represents Harrogate Stray on North Yorkshire County Council, and chair’s the council’s scrutiny of health committee, told the Stray Ferret that Harrogate and Knaresborough are some of the worst affected areas in the county. He added:

“I have been on the scrutiny of health committee for the last seven years and it has been an issue bubbling along for all of that time.

“Coronavirus has made the issue worse. Between June and December last year the NHS only expected dentists to carry out 20% of their usual appointments.

“That should increase to 45% soon but that is still too low. Dentists do have to clean between patients, given the nature of their work, so that has created delays.

“Harrogate and Knaresborough has a particular problem. While I am not entirely surprised by your findings, I do think that those delays are shocking.

“We have just started to investigate the provision of NHS dentists in North Yorkshire. I am currently trying to gather as much information as I can.

“I will then prepare a report and share my findings at the next committee meeting in June.”

Cllr Ennis added the county council only has power to scrutinise when a practice proposes a closure. He suggested the committee would have greater powers if the proposed reorganisation of the NHS devolved decisions on NHS dentistry to a more local level.

National bodies raise concerns about NHS dentists

The provision of NHS dentists has been a contentious local and national issue for some time.

Healthwatch England, the national watchdog, has said the coronavirus pandemic has stretched services to crisis point and even forced some patients to attempt their own treatments.

Healthwatch England and the British Dental Association (BDA) have both recently published damning reports into NHS dentistry.

The BDA found in October that NHS dentist treatments were at a quarter of the level prior to the coronavirus pandemic. It also found that dentists face an uphill struggle to catch up because they missed more than 14 million appointments in 2020 than the previous year.

A Healthwatch England survey of 1,300 people found that 73% said it was difficult to access help and support when they needed it. Many were only offered private treatment.

The accompanying report also suggested that the scarcity of information about whether dentists were taking NHS patients was ‘a real problem and is masking a potentially bigger issue’.

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and welcome back to our live updates on traffic and travel in the Harrogate district.

Whether you travel by car, bus or train we will keep an eye out for any possible disruption to your journey. All brought to you by The HACS Group.

It’s Connor again back on the travel desk from 6.30am. Spotted an accident or a road closure? Send your updates to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

If traffic is moving well or it’s at a standstill then we will let you know with our updates every 15 minutes.

9am – Full Update 

Another morning of live traffic has come to a close. We hope you find this service helpful. Do let us know if you have any updates we may have missed and see you again bright and early from 6.30am tomorrow.

Roads

Congestion is heavy in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate for carriageway repairs.

Trains

Buses

8.45am – Full Update 

Roads

Congestion is heavy in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate for carriageway repairs.

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

Congestion is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate for carriageway repairs.

Trains

Buses

8.15am – Full Update 

Roads

Congestion is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate for carriageway repairs.

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate for carriageway repairs.

Trains

Buses

7.45am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate for carriageway repairs.

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate for carriageway repairs.

Trains

Buses

7.15am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate for carriageway repairs.

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads look clear so far this morning but there are some areas likely to cause delays later on.

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

6.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads look clear so far this morning but there are some areas likely to cause delays later on.

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads look clear so far this morning but there are some areas likely to cause delays later on.

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

Harrogate district records second lowest daily covid total in six months

The Harrogate district has recorded its second lowest daily number of covid infections in more than half a year.

Public Health England reported just five cases in today’s figures.

Besides the four infections on 28 February, you have to go back to 13 September to find a lower daily figure.

It means the district’s seven-day rate of infection has fallen to 41 cases per 100,000 people.

The average in North Yorkshire stands at 46 and the national rate is 58.

Read more:

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

Meanwhile, people in the Harrogate district are receiving invitations for their second dose of a covid vaccine.

The Harrogate Spa Surgery website said it has started to invite patients for their second dose at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

It added that those expecting their second dose must have it at the same site that they received the first vaccine.

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and welcome to the start of a new week and to our live updates on traffic and travel in the Harrogate district.

Whether you travel by car, bus or train we will keep an eye out for any possible disruption to your journey. All brought to you by The HACS Group.

It’s Connor again back on the travel desk from 6.30am. Spotted an accident or a road closure? Send your updates to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

If traffic is moving well or it’s at a standstill then we will let you know with our updates every 15 minutes.

9am – Full Update 

Thanks again everyone for checking out our live traffic and travel blog. Enjoy the rest of your day. I will be back again tomorrow from 6.30am.

Roads

Traffic hotspots:

Traffic is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

8.45am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic hotspots:

Traffic is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic hotspots:

Traffic is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

8.15am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic hotspots:

Traffic is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic hotspots:

Traffic is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

7.45am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

7.15am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is building in these areas:

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

6.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads look clear so far this morning but there are some areas likely to cause delays later on.

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads look clear so far this morning but there are some areas likely to cause delays later on.

Be aware of a continuing road closure on Dishforth Road, near Ripon, going both ways from New Road to Strait Lane.

Temporary traffic lights in place:

There are also continuing road closures in the Old Barber and Franklin Road areas of Harrogate.

Trains

Buses

 

Harrogate district covid rate hits six-month low

The Harrogate district seven-day covid rate has fallen below 50 infections per 100,000 people.

The average now stands at 46 and has fallen below 50 for the first time since September last year.

The overall rate for North Yorkshire is 41 and the England rate is 60.

Read more:

Just eight cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district today by Public Health England.

It takes the total number of infections in the district since last March to 7,384.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

Twelve new covid cases confirmed in Harrogate district

A further 12 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the Harrogate district in today’s data from the Office for National Statistics.

It brings the total number of confirmed cases in the district to 7,366 since the pandemic began last year.

Meanwhile, the seven-day infection rate for the district remains at 59.7 cases per 100,000 people, having dropped this week to the lowest it has been since September.

It is above the average for North Yorkshire, which is 47.2. Only Richmondshire has a higher rate, at 63.3, with all other districts in the county having a lower rate.

Read more:

At Harrogate District Hospital, no further deaths have been reported in patients who tested positive for coronavirus. The total number of people who have died at the hospital since the beginning of the pandemic remains 165.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust confirmed this week it had 42 in-patients who had tested positive for covid, a drop of three from the previous week. It had discharged 20 patients in the same time period, bringing the total number treated and discharged to 554.

The number of vaccinations administered in the district has risen this week to almost 60,000, according to data from the NHS. Across the UK, people aged 56 and above are now being invited to book appointments for the first dose of their vaccines.

Nearly 60,000 receive covid vaccine in Harrogate district

Nearly 60,000 people have had the first dose of a covid vaccine in the Harrogate district, according to the latest figures.

Statistics from NHS England show a breakdown of the number of people vaccinated by region and age.

A total of 58,293 people in the district have received a first dose so far – 36% of the district’s population.

The number includes:

It comes as health bosses in North Yorkshire have started to offer vaccines to over 60s and those with underlying health conditions.

The vaccine rollout in the district also received praise from Health Secretary Matt Hancock this week. Mr Hancock said health staff in the district had done an “amazing job” delivering the vaccine.

Read more:

Harrogate is currently served by vaccine sites at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Ripon Racecourse and the former Lidl supermarket in Knaresborough.

People in the district may also be invited to the mass vaccination centre at Askham Bar in York and a site at Elland Road stadium in Leeds.

Meanwhile, the company behind the new vaccination centre in Knaresborough has said it has ambitions to administer 10,000 vaccines a week from next month.

Jason Baskind, of Homecare Pharmacy Services which runs the site, told the Stray Ferret that vaccine supply is expected to improve “significantly” in the coming months.

Police warning after increase in burglaries in Harrogate

Police have issued a warning after an increase in burglaries in the Harrogate district.

Officers said there had been an rise in burglaries in the Pannal, Rossett and the Stray areas.

The force said people should ensure their windows, doors and cars were locked and to report any suspicious activity to police.

A warning has also been issued to residents in the Duchy Road area after thieves stole property from cars. Police said vehicles had been left “insecure” and urged people not to leave items on display.

Read more: 

A post on North Yorkshire Police’s Facebook said:

“Last night a number of insecure vehicles were entered in the Duchy Road area of Harrogate and property was stolen. 

“This is reminder to motorists to ensure that your cars/vans are locked, even if parked on your driveway and ensure that no items of value are left on display.”

Police added:

“There has been an increase of burglaries in Pannal, Rossett and the Stray areas of Harrogate.

“Please ensure that you lock your doors, windows and cars. If you witness any suspicious activity, please contact the police immediately.”

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning everyone and welcome to our traffic and travel live blog, the last one before the weekend.

Whether you travel by car, bus or train we will keep an eye out for any possible disruption to your journey. All brought to you by The HACS Group.

It’s Connor again back on the travel desk from 6.30am. Spotted an accident or a road closure? Send your updates to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

If traffic is moving well or it’s at a standstill then we will let you know with our updates every 15 minutes.

Full update – 9am

Thanks for reading our traffic and travel blog. There have been a few police incidents this morning as well as increasing numbers of construction sites around the Harrogate district. That’s all from me for this week. I am heading over to the newsdesk now. My colleague Suzannah will be back on Monday morning.

Roads

Trains

Buses

https://www.hacs.co.uk/

Full update – 8.45am

Roads

Trains

Buses

Full update – 8.30am

Roads

Trains

Buses

Full update – 8.15am

Roads

Trains

Buses

Full update – 8am

Roads

Trains

Buses

Full update – 7.45am

Roads

Trains

Buses

Full update – 7.30am

Roads

Trains

Buses

Full update – 7.15am

Roads

Trains

Buses

Full update – 7am

Roads

Trains

Buses

Full update – 6.45am

Roads

Trains

Buses

Full update – 6.30am

Roads

Trains

Buses

 

Property searches ‘down to 12 days’ in Harrogate district

Home buyers in the Harrogate district have been given a second reason for optimism after the extension to the stamp duty holiday announced this week.

After months of complaints that its search process was taking too long, Harrogate Borough Council last night said it has reduced the average waiting time to just 12 days.

It is down from seven weeks, which buyers and estate agents said was causing significant delays to their purchases. However, at Wednesday night’s full council meeting, cabinet member for planning Cllr Tim Myatt said:

“As of Friday, we had 146 live searches in our system. In a normal situation, we would expect to have approximately 200 searches in the system at any point, therefore we no longer really have a backlog to speak of…

“We have trained additional council staff on the necessary process to complete searches and we have also contracted additional resource externally so the team are confident that they continue their positive performance.

“The team have worked very hard to overcome the challenge posed by the influx in search requests last year and I know the team are grateful for the support from members across the entire council.”

Cllr Myatt said simple searches requiring only information from HBC were taking an average of four days. For more complex searches needing information from North Yorkshire County Council, it was taking around 16 days, giving an average of 12 days.

In response, Cllr Samantha Mearns, who represents Knaresborough Scriven Park for the Conservatives and had asked for the update, said:

“We’re very grateful to the team for getting on with that, because clearly it has caused our residents some concern. It’s fantastic that you have got that under control. It’s just a shame North Yorkshire are slowing your average down.”

Read more:

News of the extension to the stamp duty holiday in the Budget this week has been welcomed by local estate agents. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the end of the scheme for homes up to £500,000 would be moved from March 31 to June 30, followed by a tapering down to £250,000 until the end of September.

Tim Waring, head of residential at Lister Haigh, said it was a “welcome move”. He said:

“This will at least in part avoid the “cliff edge” scenario that has created so much pressure on the residential market in recent months. Help for those wanting to get on the property ladder, as opposed to renting, is another welcome move, all of which should stimulate the market during the remainder of 2021 as the lockdown restrictions gradually come to an end.”

Nick Simpson, co-founder and managing director of Linley & Simpson, added:

“The property industry was badly hit during the first national covid-19 lockdown, and the stamp duty holiday which Mr Sunak announced last June was a welcome shot-in-the-arm.

“It is clear that he has listened to the concerns of the residential property industry, and the stamp duty holiday extension, plus 95%, will particularly benefit first-time buyers and those looking to move in the next few weeks.”

The property market in the Harrogate district was extremely busy in the autumn following the introduction of the stamp duty holiday, but prospective buyers told the Stray Ferret they were concerned delays with searches would prevent them completing in time to avoid a major tax bill.

Mr Waring said estate agents will now wait to see the impact of the news on reduced search turn-around times so local buyers to take advantage of the scheme’s extension. He added:

“The stamp duty extension might relieve pressure in the short term, but it must be remembered sales have to complete, not just exchange, by the end of June to qualify. That is only three and half months away so if local search turnaround timescales don’t improve quickly, the number of homebuyers able to benefit from the extension may not anywhere near what the Chancellor might have expected.”