Appointments cancelled at Inshes Dental Centre in Inverness due to 'unexpected staff vacancies'
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Patients at an Inverness dental centre are facing cancelled appointments due to "unexpected staff vacancies".
Inshes Dental Centre, which takes NHS and private patients, is part of the Clyde Munro Dental Group.
But it has emerged today some patients at the centre located in Cradlehall Court have had their appointments cancelled.
NHS Highland has been made aware of the situation.
It comes amid a lack of availability of NHS provision in the Inverness area, with patients forced to travel to surrounding Highland towns such as Invergordon and Tain to avoid paying for private treatment.
A spokesman for the health authority said: "The owners of the Inshes Dental Centre have advised NHS Highland today that they are dealing with unexpected staff vacancies within the practice and that they will ensure that patients and the health board are kept updated of their plans to address this situation.
"There has been no decision made to cease providing NHS dentistry."
The spokesman said the NHS Highland Dental Helpline provides up to date information on dental practices accepting patients for NHS dental registration. The helpline would also arrange emergency dental appointment if required.
A spokesperson for Clyde Munro, said: "It is no secret that there is a dentist shortage within the UK, and we have the added challenge of recruiting within the Highlands.
"Our Inshes Dental Centre has delayed some routine appointments while we recruit new dentists.
"However, we would like to underline that we remain committed to providing NHS care and are in regular contact with NHS Highland."
Skye dentist Dr Zahid Ahmad, of Portree Dental Care, is seeking planning permission to convert an office in Bank Street, Inverness into a dentists’ practice. If successful, it would help to counter shortages in NHS treatment.
The NHS Highland Dental Helpline can be contacted by calling 0800 1412362 or emailing nhshighland.dentalhelpline@nhs.scot.
It is open Monday to Friday 8.45am to 5pm hours. Outwith these hours, patients with a dental emergency should contact NHS 24 by calling 111.
