UPDATED PETITION:

Our local dentist is an essential local resource, serving many people who do not have the means to access a dentist elsewhere. In recent years we have lost a post office, a doctor’s surgery, a pharmacy, a school and a bus route. No more. We aren’t going to lose this dentist.

The original petition (below) started out to stop the closure of the dentist. Unfortunately the dentist has closed, but only temporarily. An Action Group has spring up and so far we have successfully campaigned to save the building and it’s equipment for 1 year! And brought decision makers around the table to commit to finding solutions. This is a significant win!

We have now become a campaign run by local community residents and supported by allies and co-conspirators from across Bristol and the country. We ask you to sign this petition to maintain pressure on the regional healthcare authorities (Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board) and relevant local and national decision makers to listen to the local community to find a way to offer NHS dental care at Ashley Road in St Pauls and build it into practice that tackles underlying health inequalities.

See here for more details and others ways you can help:

www.savestpaulsdentist.org

ORIGINAL PETITION:

Our local dentist is set to close, amongst the 85 BUPA closures. This is an essential local resource, serving many people who do not have the means to access a dentist elsewhere- if they can even find one! The team at St Paul's are brilliant- providing excellent dental care for thousands of people. Please sign and share, to let BUPA and the Integrated Care Board, our local and national government know that this matters!

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the closure of the dental provision in the Ashley Ward of Bristol. Following the news that the Bupa Dentist in St Paul’s, is closing at the end of June 2023. The impact of this closure will have an adverse impact on the health and wellbeing of the thousands of people who use this Dental practice, increase inequalities and remove accessibility to Dental Care.  We are asking that you take urgent action to address the situation.

The Integrated Care Board has a responsibility under the Public Sector Equality Act to measure and reduce the impact of changes in services or policy on people who have a Protected Characteristic under the Equality Act. We would like to see evidence that this has been done. 

Dental provision in Bristol is already stretched to the point that no dentists are offering appointments to new NHS patients. We are concerned that, following Bupa’s closure, current NHS patients at that dentist will not be able to receive dental care elsewhere- the nearest available NHS provision is currently more than 50 miles away. With the average cost of a new customer examination at £65, private dentistry is unaffordable for children, pensioners, those in receipt of Universal Credit or are paid below the median income. We understand that as Bupa is primarily a private business and you do not have a direct say over its closure. 
  
We are asking the Integrated Care Board to:

• Work with the local community to investigate the impact this closure will have on the vulnerable people who use this dental provision.
• Explore and act on all options available to make Bupa reverse the decision to close the St Paul’s dentistry branch.
• Ensure that within a reasonable vicinity of Bupa in St. Paul’s, Bristol there is an NHS dental provision for the NHS patients and dentists currently employed at the practice who continue to be committed to treating NHS patients.