CONCERNS have been raised after a long-standing town NHS dentist announced they would be going private from August 1.

Emails were sent to patients last week by the Parklands surgery, which took over the former Matthews and Jones practice last year, asking them to sign up for a dental plan costing a minimum of £105 per year for an annual check up and hygiene visit.

With residents saying there are no current NHS spaces available in Monmouth, local county councillor and practice patient Martin Newell says he will be raising concerns about the lack of NHS dental provision at the full council meeting next week.

Cllr Newell (Conservative, Town Ward) pledged: "I will ask an urgent question about the lack of NHS dentists in Monmouth at MCC’s full council on the 22nd June.

"I have also spoken to a few members of staff at various dentists today, and they have all said that many dentists are going private, as they have been set targets (by the Welsh NHS) and some are not achievable, and the dentists are not paid for all the extra work and add ons.

"As a result, dentists are giving up their NHS contracts."

In a statement, Parklands – which relocated from Worcester Street to new premises in Priory street this week – said: "Since taking over the practice in 2025, our focus has been to provide safe, high-quality, and sustainable care within our independent, family-run practice.

"We have continued to invest in the practice, including digital equipment, software upgrades, and the addition of a fourth surgery to enhance patient care.

"Following recent changes to the Welsh NHS dental contract, alongside wider considerations within the practice, we have carefully reviewed how we can continue to deliver care at the standard we aim to provide.

"After careful consideration, we have made the decision to end our NHS contract from 1st August 2026.

"From this date, we will no longer be providing NHS treatment at Parklands Dental Practice.

"We fully understand this news may be upsetting, and this decision has been made with great care and consideration for the future quality of care we provide."

Cllr Newell said they had indicated that anyone wanting to continue receiving NHS treatment could register on the 'Dental Access Portal Wales', but he understood the nearest available treatment in Wales "could be Caerphilly", over 40 miles away.

One angry resident labelled the move "despicable, totally unethical in every way", while another said there was already a waiting list to be accepted for NHS treatment in the Aneurin Bevan Health Board region.

"It's horrendous! Both myself and daughter have anxiety when it comes to dentists... now we have to start all over again and that's only if we can find an NHS dentist to take us on,” added one poster.

Another said: "They have been considering this possibility of stopping NHS treatment for at least a year, as I was told there was a small possibility early last year by one of the dentists, who disagreed with the approach and believed in NHS care...

"It is not the dentists themselves, but the management that I'm unhappy with, and the bottom line is this is likely about profit margins."

Other posters said they travelled to Hereford and Thornbury for NHS treatment.