Additional reporting by KMTV’s Gabriel Morris

Bosses at a new dental practice feel they are being stymied in their attempts to secure an NHS contract, despite a huge need for appointments locally.

Leaders at Nightingale Dental Surgery in Margate believe they could see thousands of patients a year if permitted to provide NHS services, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears, saying they cannot gain a contract “for love nor money”.

Their situation, it is argued, reflects a district-wide problem, with one county councillor arguing “it’s easier to win the lottery than NHS dentistry contracts in Thanet”.

Nightingale opened last month in Seacole Way and is run by Clare Henderson and Teresa Kelsall, who both worked at a surgery in Hereson Road, Ramsgate, for more than 20 years.

Although a private practice, the pair want to provide NHS appointments too, to help meet the demand in the area.

However, Ms Kelsall says the opportunity to bid for contracts rarely comes around, and they are unsure when they will be able to put their case forward.

She explains: “A lot of the dentists in the area are corporations and they mop up a huge amount of contracts for the actual surgeries and it’s really difficult to get in there and try to push our way in.

“We only want a small contract, we’re not asking for the world but we would like to provide NHS dentistry because I feel it’s really needed.

“We’re literally a stone’s throw from the hospital and we’d like to be able to offer out-of-hours appointments to patients for emergency needs, we’d like emergency patients to be able to come to us under an NHS registration.”

The process of bidding for contracts starts when the commissioning NHS integrated care board puts services out for tender, the timing of which is determined by NHS England.

Ms Kelsall says they have been in touch with the NHS since October, and they have also contacted the head of the local integrated care board, who was unable to shed light on when bidding will open.

However, it is understood NHS Kent and Medway is in the process of evaluating expressions of interest to offer additional activity in targeted locations, including Thanet.

Ms Henderson adds: “It’s quite frustrating because a lot of people can’t afford even our prices – and we’re between NHS and private, we try to put ourselves in the middle.

Ms Henderson adds: “It’s quite frustrating because a lot of people can’t afford even our prices – and we’re between NHS and private, we try to put ourselves in the middle.

“But to someone that comes to you, often in pain, and they can’t afford it, it’s awful, you want to help them but we can’t.”

The surgery charges £60 for an initial check up for new private patients and £50 per check up after that. They also offer a children’s plan, which is £5 a month for two check ups per year.

NHS charges come in three bands, ranging from £26.80, for examinations and more simple treatments, to £319.10, for the most extensive work.

Those under 18 or under 19 and in full time education receive free NHS treatments.

In December, KentOnline reported that one in eight people in Kent and Medway do not have a dentist at all, the highest rate across the south east of England, but the same as the national average.

Cllr Barry Lewis, who represents Margate, says more NHS dental treatment is "desperately needed” in Thanet.

He says: “These people need an NHS contract.

“They’re desperately needed, it’s easier to win the lottery than NHS dentistry contracts in Thanet at the moment.

“It’s a criminal situation that people are losing teeth because they can’t afford dentistry.”

NHS Kent and Medway says millions have been ploughed in over the last two years into increasing dental provision.

A spokesperson says: “Our focus is on improving patient access to routine NHS dental care where it is needed most.

“We have invested £4.7m over two years in increasing dental provision across Kent and Medway through new dental contacts and expanding existing ones.

“We have recently offered additional activity in seven areas, including Thanet, and are in the process of evaluating expressions of interest from dental providers.”

“People should still come forward for the dental care they need but they may have to contact more than one practice as NHS capacity regularly changes.”

It is understood that since July 2022, when NHS Kent and Medway took over the commissioning of dental services, the intergrated care board has tendered eight new contracts. Several other contracts have been expanded.