Extra NHS Dental Places for Prestbury Residents
Health bosses in Gloucestershire have given the green light for a dental practice in Prestbury to take on new patients.
Prestbury Dental Care, on Prestbury Road near Cheltenham, will be taking on new NHS dental patients, a decision that has been greatly welcomed by local residents.
Matt Groves, a local resident, said that the news has been welcomed by local residents, as some of them are registered with practices in Cheltenham town centre, which involves them arranging a lift or getting the bus. He said that the new places will be especially beneficial for older people, who will be able to access the practice without worrying about transport.
News of the extra places has gone down well with Prestbury residents, but Alun Rees, secretary of the Gloucestershire department of the British Dental Association, has questioned the need for additional services, following the opening of two large practices in Cheltenham over the course of the last 12 months. Mr Rees claims that there are plenty of places available but people are not using them and figures show that around 50 percent of people do not visit their dentist on a regular basis. Most blame cost, but there are many who simply do not like attending regular appointments.
Recently, Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, confirmed additional funding for NHS dental services and an additional sum of £28 million has been made available for Primary Care Trusts to bid for. Mr Rees has called for more money to be spent on preventative services, as this will improve standards of oral health, as well as cutting the cost of dental care in the future.
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