St Albans health groups meet to discuss relocation plans for special care dental services
Health groups in St Albans have come together to discuss plans to relocate the special care dental service, which is currently based at St Albans City Hospital, to Hemel.
Plans for the move had already been revealed, but health bodies met recently to discuss the relocation in more detail. The service, which operates from St Albans City Hospital will relocate to The Marlowes in Hemel Hempstead. News of the move was not welcomed by many local people, but representatives from Herts Community Trust insist that residents will be able to benefit from larger, purpose-built facilities once renovation work is complete. It is not viable to provide special care dentistry in every location, according to director of the operations at the trust, Marion Dunstone, and the move will improve the service.
Ms Dunstone suggested that the current site has limitations due to its size and the service currently provides care for many patients based in Hemel Hempstead and Watford. At a meeting with members of St Albans Health and Wellbeing Partnership, it was revealed that the new premises are expected to open by March 2018.
Gillian Lowery, from the special care dentistry team, said that the new facilities are much more spacious and they will be much better suited to patients with additional needs. The centre will have ramps and accessible entrances and there will also be a drop-off area directly outside the door, which will make it easier for patients to get to appointments using private or public transport. The new facility will also be equipped with the latest technology, including new, state of the art imaging equipment.
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