News that the ADP dental practice in Cowley Road is to close this week will come as a huge shock to the 8,000 NHS patients on its books.

We are used to seeing the odd shop suddenly put up the shutters with little or no warning. But a dental surgery?

We know that ADP is continuing to operate in Kidlington, where it seems most patients will be transferred.

But was it really necessary to shut the East Oxford operation almost overnight?

It is a scenario more reminiscent of a dodgy car dealer whose credit and luck have run out than an essential public service being reorganised.

Why couldn't the closure be phased? What's the terrible rush?

What will happen to the 12 staff who work there? And what are the thousands of patients, now left in limbo, supposed to do next?

They have been told that their NHS status will not be affected, but where exactly will they go now? Many, especially elderly, patients will be understandably reluctant to be relocated to Kidlington.

And after all the stories about NHS places drying up in the county, is there really the capacity in Oxford to meet this new demand locally? We hope that Oxford City PCT knows what it's doing but we and a lot of their patients/ customers remain to be convinced.