New dental practice opens in former pub in Hartlepool
A new dental practice has opened on the site of a former pub in Hartlepool.
Health & Smile, a new community-based dental clinic, has officially opened its doors to patients. The practice is located on Easington Road on the site previously occupied by The Saxon pub.
Practice owner, Kusum Chawla, is hoping to create a community service, with dental professionals providing dental care in care homes and taking part in educational school visits, as well as offering a conventional clinic-based treatment list. Kusum is eager to promote the message that prevention is always better than cure, and she is committed to improving oral health education in the area.
As well as offering affordable dental care, the practice will also run extended opening hours to enable patients who work full-time and shifts to see a dentist.
The practice opened around 12 months after a change of use planning application was approved by Hartlepool Borough Council.
Speaking about her new clinic, Kusum, who has worked in the area for 15 years, said that the process has been challenging, but also exciting. At present, the practice doesn’t have an NHS contract, but the aim is to attract private patients with an affordable pricing strategy. So far, around 60 patients have registered, and the team will be working hard in the coming weeks and months to reach out to local schools and care homes to provide information about community outreach services and to build the client base.
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