Thousands of NHS Dental Places to be Created in York
Health bosses have confirmed that thousands of new NHS dental places will be made available in York and Selby.
NHS North Yorkshire and York has confirmed an investment of £5.25 million to create around 14,500 new NHS dental places and improve access to local dental services.
Funding will be used to create a new practice in Acomb, York and expand existing services in the region.
The trust has recently launched an advertising campaign to encourage people to register with their local dentist. Of the 14,500 new places, 10,800 will be available in York, 1500 will be available in Selby and 1,100 will be created in Ryedale.
Patient groups have welcomed news of the investment, as they have been concerned about the shortage of dental places for some time. Lesley Pratt, chair of the watchdog, York LINk said that the news was “welcome but overdue.” Mrs Pratt also said that the group had met with local people to discuss their concerns and the major problems finding a dentist who was taking on new patients and struggling to find an appropriate dentist.
In 2004, one man appeared in the local press after pulling his own tooth using pliers after failing to get an appointment with a dentist and a wheelchair user told how she was assigned a dentist situated on a floor with only stairs and no wheelchair access. In 2012 hundreds of people queued when a new practice opened in Copmanthorpe, only to be told that all the places had already been taken.
Lorraine Naylor, assistant director of primary care services at NHS North Yorkshire and York, said that the new places will help to cut waiting times and enable more people to register with a dentist close to their home. She added that patients who are already on the waiting list will be contacted by the trust to allocate places, while those who are not on the database are encouraged to get in touch to join the waiting list.
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