My Dentist closure 'another nail in coffin' for town
The My Dentist facility, in Wylcwm Place, will close on September 30, with patients receiving the news via letter from the practice.
The practice has provided both NHS and private treatments since opening, but will cease to offer either service from the end of September.
Knighton mayor Tom Taylor described it as 'bad news', with town councillor Sally Vaughan calling it a 'terrible outcome' for local residents.
'My Dentist have given/ended their NHS contract, so that will no longer leave an NHS dentist in the town,' Councillor Vaughan said in a letter to her fellow councillors.
'They say that there is (an) inability to recruit dentists into this area so, unfortunately, at this present time, My Dentist will close permanently on September 30.
'They said that obviously if things alter then they will reassess.
'This is a terrible outcome after being closed for some time and (after being) given hope that it would re-open.
'I think as a town council we need to write to our Assembly Members and the health board and see what they are going to do about the closure.
'We have to try something as the townspeople look to the council for help and guidance and we just cannot just sit back and do nothing.
'I am not sure if we can do a lot once their minds have been made up and, obviously with the lack of clinicians available to work here, it does not bode well.
'But we must ask the question for the town. It is important as there are very few if no NHS dentists in this area available to take on patients.
'I am sure there are plenty that would take on private patients but we need NHS dentistry here in Knighton.'
Cllr Vaughan said she intends to contact Brecon and Radnorshire MS James Evans and report back to the council.
The news of the closure was reported on the Knighton (Powys) Open Forum last week and greeted with sadness.
'This is a shame and a nightmare,' said one person.
'It's another nail in the coffin for Knighton,' added another, who said he has been driving to Ludlow for private treatment for a long time.
'No opticians no dentist, the little Co-op with no stock. It's shameful,' said one user.
And another said: 'No dental practice whatsoever in Knighton now.
'We travel to Church Stretton for our dental treatment, have done since Orchard Corner closed and we didn't find out until someone told us three months later that they were closed, no letter or phone call.
'Knighton and Mid Wales is being totally left out of everything and anybody who dares to speak up for us gets immediately shot down in flames.'
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