Thousands of NHS dental places to be made available in Doncaster
Health bosses in Doncaster have announced that 11,000 new NHS dental places will be made available.
The new places are part of a two million pound investment in oral health services in the area; the places will be made available at two new dental practices, each providing care for around 5,500 patients.
The news will be welcomed by families struggling to access affordable dental care. Research carried out in the area revealed that 100,000 people had not seen a dentist in the last two years, a figure that represents a third of the population of Doncaster.
One of the new practices, The Fieldside Dental Surgery in Thorne, is already up and running and accepting new patients and the other practice, which is located in Balby, is set to open this month. Kuljit Khehra, owner of the practice in Thorne, said that the response has so far been very positive and word is spreading around the town, encouraging local people to register with the surgery. Standards of oral health is the Thorne area are poor and Khehra says that the team is looking forward to making a difference and helping people to enjoy better standards of oral health.
The other new surgery, which will open in Warmsworth Road, is due to open soon and patients are encouraged to contact the practice to register once the doors open to the public. Residents in Doncaster are invited to register with either practice.
The new practices have been funded by a cash injection of £2 million, which has been added to the annual dental budget of £20 million.
Heather Marsh, deputy director of primary care at NHS Doncaster, said that the extra investment in oral health services had made a significant difference and Doncaster was now amongst the best areas in the country for being able to see an NHS dentist.
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