Manx Care has set out the latest position and future plans for dental services in the North of the Island.
Smile Dental has confirmed that it is working towards recommencing dental services in Ramsey from alternative premises in late 2026, with further information expected shortly. Consequently, its planned move into the dental unit at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital will not proceed, and the lease for those premises has been relinquished.
Patients registered with Smile Dental will be able to continue accessing their routine dental care through the practice when services recommence. In the interim, Manx Care will continue to provide urgent and emergency dental treatment for Smile Dental patients as required.
In a positive development for patients in the North, Manx Care will use the temporary dental unit to increase access and provision to NHS dental services for the duration of the agreement.
A salaried dentist will commence providing services from the RDCH dental unit from the week commencing 2 November 2026. In addition, Manx Care is actively seeking to recruit a further dentist to support patients requiring access to dental care.
Initially, the Manx Care service will provide appointments for:
- Patients from the Northern locality who are currently on the NHS dental waiting list. These patients will be contacted directly by Manx Care and do not need to make contact separately
- Unregistered patients requiring emergency dental treatment
- Smile Dental patients requiring urgent or emergency care until Smile Dental resumes routine services from its new premises
The return of Smile Dental’s services, alongside the introduction of the additional Manx Care dental service will help reduce waiting times and increase access to dental care for patients.
A Manx Care spokesperson stated:
‘While we are pleased that Smile Dental is progressing plans to resume services in Ramsey, we have also taken the opportunity to introduce additional NHS dental provision from Ramsey District Cottage Hospital site.
The combination of Smile Dental’s return and the delivery of additional access by Manx Care will increase the overall availability of dental care on the Island and help improve access for patients who have been waiting for treatment. Manx Care is committed to the development of health and care communities and understands that people are the centre of all that we do.’
