It is with regret that we announce that Gairloch Dental Practice is closed as of 16th January 2024 due to the shortage of Dentists in the practice.

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This difficult decision has been taken following many months of unprecedented uncertainty for our patients and the compounding factor of exceptional staff shortages following the Covid -19 pandemic and which has resulted in a national shortage of Dentists.  Our dentist Dr Nigel Fitter has taken the decision to resign, and we have been unable to recruit a new dentist for Gairloch Dental Practice after trying for many months.

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All patients registered with the practice will be receiving a letter advising them of this and what their options are moving forward.

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Highland Dental Plan Patients:

The Real Good Dental Company have a private practice in Inverness, all HDP patients will transfer to new dentist Dr Eirini Poniraki at Eilersten Dental Care and will receive instruction by letter.

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Private Patients:

You have an option to transfer and register privately at Eilertsen Dental Care practice.

Dr Eirini Poniraki has many years of dental experience; she is due to take up the post at Eilertsen Dental Care in January 2024 after working for the past 18 months on The Isle of Man and is welcoming new private patients. Dr Poniraki will be available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please find below the practice details should you wish to register.

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Eilertsen Dental Care

Hope House, Cradlehall Business Park Inverness, Inverness IV2 5GH

Tel: 01463 794304

 

If you wish to transfer to Eilertsen Dental Care and register as a private patient, please contact them at your earliest convenience.

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Alternatively, if this is not an option for you and you wish to seek alternative NHS registration, please contact the NHS Highland Dental Helpline Team on the details below.

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NHS patients:

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During the 12-week period from 16th January up to and including 15th April 2024, we are required to provide our NHS patients with emergency dental care so please continue to contact us on 01445 712240 should you have a dental emergency. Please be aware you may have to travel to our sister practice in Kyle of Lochalsh should you require an emergency appointment. Unfortunately this practice does not have the capacity to register you as a NHS patient for routine dental treatment.

 

In the event after 12 weeks from 16th January you have been unable to register at another practice but require emergency dental care, please contact NHS Highlands Helpline:

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The contact no. for NHS Highlands Helpline is:  0800 141 2362

The Dental Helpline operates:

Monday to Friday    08.45 to 17.00hrs

Nhshighland.dentalhelpline@nhs.scot

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We would appreciate your understanding that this decision was not made lightly.

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Should you wish to discuss your options further, please feel free to contact us on the below:

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Gairloch Dental Practice

Practice Manager Mairi Drummond

Tel: 01445 712240

Email: pm@gairlochdentist.com

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Gairloch Dental Practice