West Wight MP, Richard Quigley, is taking up the baton after being handed a petition of 2,125 names on Tuesday, after the only dental practice treating NHS patients west of Newport confirmed it would be closing on Thursday, October, 31.

Mr Quigley will present the signatures to Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and Health Minister, Stephen Kinnock.

The signatures have been collected by Totland resident, Ieuan Jehu, since August when, as previously reported, the mydentist Group gave notice of its intention to close the practice to the Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Ieuan, a full-time carer for his father, said: “The signatures represent about 20 per cent of the population of Totland, Freshwater and Yarmouth. Everyone is concerned about the lack of NHS dentistry on the Island.

“I’m hoping Richard will pass this on to Wes Streeting, and he will step in to hold the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to account to deliver the primary healthcare services required on the Island.

“At the moment, no dentist is taking on any more NHS patients, other than a surgery in East Cowes which is taking children only.

“I have been in meetings with Healthwatch IW, who have been helpful in looking at ways to find an alternative organisation to take on the lease of the Freshwater dental practice, and protect the jobs of those employed there. There is reason to be optimistic that we may yet see a positive outcome.

“However, even if we are successful in finding a new organisation to take on the practice, there will be a period of transition during which the practice will close.”

Mr Quigley said: “I have spoken to dentists on the Island and the ICB and everyone wants something to happen, but nothing is happening at the moment. I am pushing as hard as I can.

“We are in touch with mydentist and, as a goodwill gesture, we are asking them to leave their equipment to give a new practice a head-start and the ICB is open to making something work. Patient-wise, we are talking about people suffering severe chronic pain.

“I would also like to get school dentistry trials over on the Island, so our children can have check-ups. However, so far at Parliament, I’ve found that the Island has been a forgotten backwater for so long, and I’m making it my job to change that situation.”