A West Wiltshire couple have complained to a Melksham dental practice about its disability access arrangements.

John and Rosemary Croft, from Brokerswood near Westbury, say they struggled to get a wheelchair through a doorway at the Regency Dental Practice in Melksham.

They were forced to look for another NHS dentist after the White Horse Dental Practice in Westbury lost its NHS contract.

Mrs Croft, 65, said the Regency practice is contravening the Disability Discrimination Act by not providing adequate access for its patients.

The couple were making their first visit to the practice in Spa Road when they encountered the disability access problems.

Mr Croft, 70, has been disabled after suffering a stroke in August 2018 and now has to use a wheelchair to get around.

She said: “We couldn’t get John’s wheelchair over the threshold. The door was a normal, narrow domestic uPVC door with an upstanding not roll-over threshold.

“John tried to walk but has never lifted his leg as high as the threshold and the door was too narrow for me to stand next to him in the gap.

“He couldn’t cope and fell back in the wheelchair, distressed.

“As we struggled in the doorway we could hear the receptionists talking to one another saying they couldn’t and wouldn’t help us.

“I was told that the front door would be worse, but I asked to see it. It was an older door with a sloping weatherboard at the threshold. I thought it was worth trying.

“John did his best but the wheelchair got wedged. I had to stand John up in the rain and wriggle the 110kg of the empty chair on my own.

“They claimed that no-one has had a problem with access before which is irrelevant.

“The receptionist said they wouldn’t get planning permission to alter the building which is wrong. Poor equipment and lack of training both need to be addressed immediately.

“They need to face up to their responsibilities to make sure that no one suffers the indignity that my husband experienced.”

Responding to Mrs Croft's complaint, practice manager Zoe Britton said: "I would like to sincerely apologise for any upset that was caused.

"I can reassure you that the appointment made to see the dentist was done so in good faith as we had not experienced difficulties with wheelchair access before.

"However, since your visit, I have investigated the matter and we have had a survey completed on the practice building by our Health and Safety Consultant.

"The practice is in a Grade 2 listed building and the changes we can make are limited, but, we do now have some suggested amendments at Regency Dental Practice to improve accessibility and we intend to implement these changes in the next six weeks.

"I understand that this will not provide full disability access but I do hope that this will be an improvement.

"Our staff do receive regular training, but I have given the reception staff your feedback and I would like to assure you that the training programme will continue so that staff can assist and advise patients to the best of their ability."

She also offered the couple the opportunity to make another appointment at a sister practice in Chippenham where disability access is easier.