One of the last remaining NHS dental practices in a coastal town has told its patients it would only be providing private care from the start of April.

In a letter to patients, A W Brown Dental Practice in Felixstowe, Suffolk, said it was moving away from the NHS due to a "chronic lack of investment".

Marc James, whose family of four is registered there, said it was another "kick in the teeth" for working people.

The government said it was working to improve NHS dental care.

Toothless in Suffolk, which has been campaigning for improved NHS dentistry provision, said the government needed to "radically reform and fund the NHS dental contract".

Image source, Google

A W Brown is one of just two town dental practices which provide NHS dental care, though the second one is no longer accepting new NHS patients.

It told patients in the letter it had "proudly" provided care under the umbrella of the NHS for many years.

But, it said, a "chronic lack of investment in NHS dentistry by successive governments, coupled with rapidly rising costs and lack of resources" meant it was moving away from the NHS.

It said it would be providing dental care on a private basis only from 1 April.

Mr James, 52 said: "On top of everything else, the cost of diesel, council tax going up, our gas and electricity bills going up, we've now got this.

"It's another kick in the teeth for anyone going to work."

🦷 “I have just had a letter from my NHS dentist in Felixstowe, saying I will now have to pay for private care £10.33-19.59 a month. How am I able to afford that from my pension? Guess I will have to buy some pliers!” JH from Felixstowe #NHS #dentist #dentistry pic.twitter.com/aBJ0UfPjTA