In March, following a review of current dental services on the island, NHS England sought to create a contract for a dental practice almost four times larger than a full-time surgery.

The offer to find someone to fulfill this contract, however, failed.

In an update of Isle of Wight Councilit is orientation and control committee for health and social actionto be heard at meeting next week (June 6), the NHS said it had rolled out services in Hampshire and the island as a priority.

While work is underway across the Solent, NHS disappointingly said, no one showed up to accept the proposed new contract for the island.

The NHS says teams are working to understand why previously interested parties have not come forward and, once those responses have been assessed, they will consider alternative and flexible arrangements.

In July, the commissioning of dental services will move from NHS England to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board.

It is hoped the move will allow for more local and bespoke arrangements to address the island’s problems.

A persistent problem remains, however, in the recruitment and retention of dentists on the island.

The final version of NHS review of dental needs in the regionreleased earlier this month, said IW’s recruiting issues had led to the under-delivery of commissioned dental work.

The NHS says the problems here are most pronounced, with insufficient staff to provide these services.

The organization says the recruitment and retention of dentists should be reviewed with all stakeholders and addressed in a systematic way.