Hull patients to travel to Scunthorpe for teeth extractions
Patients who need their teeth extracted under a general anaesthetic in Hull and East Yorkshire will have to travel to a hospital in North Lincolnshire.
The NHS failed to secure a contract to use general anaesthetics in tooth extractions at local hospitals when its current agreement ends this month.
It means patients will have to attend Scunthorpe General Hospital with some having to travel more than 60 miles.
NHS Hull said it was confident a contractor would be found by August.
About 250 people would be affected, mainly children and people with learning difficulties, it said.
Link, the NHS watchdog body, said it was "very concerned" that patients would not be treated in Hull.
Travel costs refund
An advert was placed by the NHS earlier this year to find a contractor.
It said a contractor was not appointed in time because no applicant met its criteria and had re-advertised for a provider.
In a statement, NHS Hull said: "A second procurement process is now under way and the commissioners are confident that a local service will be in place by 1st August 2012.
"Whilst NHS Hull and NHS East Riding of Yorkshire acknowledge the inconvenience this may cause to some patients and their families, the PCTs are committed to ensuring no patient is left out of pocket by the need to travel further.
"Those who would normally be eligible for help with health costs will be able to claim for reimbursement, whilst others will have patient transport arrangements made for them."