PATIENTS registered with the dental practice at the Hampshire Healthcare drop-in centre at Basingstoke hospital are being reassured that the service is remaining open.
The £8million centre, which, as previously reported in The Gazette, has failed to enrol the expected number of registered patients, is to close in March next year.
In a statement, managers at the NHS Primary Care Trust “Cluster” covering Basingstoke said some patients mistakenly believe the Hampshire Health dental surgery is shutting down after notice was served on the GP-led service by NHS Hampshire.
A spokeswoman said that while the GP surgery will close to patients from April 2013, the dental practice remains very much open for business, and it is hoped that it will be able to remain at its current site.
Natalie Jones, head of dental services commissioning and contracting for the SHIP PCT Cluster, said: “The dental service is well used and well-received by its patients, and we want to get the message across that it’s business as usual.
“There is no need at all for patients to seek alternative NHS dental care if they are registered with the practice at the Hampshire Healthcare Centre. Indeed, it continues to accept new NHS patients.”
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