Patients without an NHS dentist face three month wait in Bolton

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Patients who are not registered with an NHS dentist in Bolton may face a wait of up to three months for treatment.

An investigation by The Bolton News revealed that 2,000 people are currently on a waiting list for an NHS dentist; they have been told that there is a wait of between two and three months, due to a shortage of places in the town.

Health chiefs say they are working hard to resolve the problem. A spokesperson from NHS Bolton said that places are being allocated to patients who have not seen a dentist within the last two years as a priority and claimed that investment is being made to improve access to dental services in the area. The NHS has been running a waiting list system since September and patients are being contacted as soon as a place becomes available.

Bolton has a poor record of oral health, especially amongst young children; figures show that rates of tooth decay amongst five year olds are above the national average.

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February 4th, 2011 at 08:47 PM
mr michael and mrs margaret saul Says :

prevously registered as nhs patients with d m harper of bradford st bolton.lived in cumbria last few years and registered with nhs dentist in carlisle.now urgently meed to register with d m harper or other nhs dentist home addess 16 , mill lane ,horwich .bolton bl6 6at dm harper say taking patients ,but have to register via pct
michael saul
matgaret saul