NHS Dental Places Still Available

16/01/2006

West Gloucestershire PCT has confirmed that 1,000 NHS dental places are still available to patients at Eastgate Street Dental Centre in Gloucester.

The 4 surgery centre was opened in June 2005 and nearly five thousand patients are now registered with the centre.

Patients who wish to register will need to contact the Dental Helpline on 01452 318858 or 318872 from Monday 23 rd January ( 9am). It will not be possible to register before that date.

The caller’s details will be taken, and patients will then be contacted with a first appointment. Local people are asked to be patient as the PCT anticipates that there will be high levels of interest.

The NHS places at the centre represent an integral part of the PCT’s commitment to provide an additional 28,000 NHS dental registrations for residents of West Gloucestershire through the opening of two new dental practices in 2005 (Cinderford and Gloucester) and by reaching agreement with local dentists in Gloucester and the Forest of Dean to provide additional NHS services.

Director of Service Delivery at West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, John Ford said:

“The public have been telling us that improving access to Dentistry is very important to them and this continues to be one of our top priorities.”

“Although these developments mean that we are increasing the availability of NHS dentistry in Gloucester, we are not complacent as we know that there is still much work to be done to improve access still further.”

Patients who wish to register with the Eastgate Street Dental Centre must contact the Dental Helpline from Monday 23 rd January ( 9am). It will not be possible for patients to register before that date. Patients will not be able to register by visiting the Centre, by telephoning the Centre or by post.