Damira Dental Studios has revealed to Island Echo that its new 10-surgery practice in Ryde, which will look after 10,000 NHS patients, is set to open in November.
The current branch located on Melville Street features 4 fully equipped surgeries. When operational, the new branch – located in the former Barclay’s building on the High Street – will feature 10 surgeries with the premises run by a team of committed staff members, including 4 dentists, 2 hygienists and 2 patient care coordinators.
Works to gut the former bank are ongoing, with hopes that all the renovations will be complete in time for the new practice to open in November 2025.
It was back in January that plans were first touted.
Addressing the challenges facing NHS dentistry on the Isle of Wight, Dr. Anushika Brogan, CEO and Founder of Damira Dental Studios, has said:
“I think there is a lack of understanding around NHS dentistry on the Island but one of the biggest issues is recruitment.
“Dentistry is a great career but it is very hard to recruit. Luckily we have a solid recruitment strategy both here on the Island and at our practices on the mainland.
Article continues below this advertisement “I am a dentist myself so I understand these challenges, we try work to get the remedial tasks done as quickly as possible so that we can see more patients.”
Island Echo is told that as many as 10,000 NHS patients can be catered for at the new practice.
Damira Dental – which also operates in East Cowes – offers a host of dental services to both NHS and private patients. Applications to join the NHS waiting list are live on the Damira website.
Damira make it work by recruiting dentists from abroad, some of whom need 2 years retraining to enable them to become registered/qualified in the UK….Correct me if I’m wrong….
Six of them, apparently, between now and November. And I wouldn’t mind knowing why the company changed it’s name from Aspire Dental Care Ltd in 2015 and how it can now suddenly afford to take on 6 new staff plus new premises?
After using their surgery in East Cowes where all they do is try and upsell you on treatments you don’t need while at the same time not doing the basics right, no thank you.