PLANS are in the pipeline to open a new dental surgery in the Thorne area thanks to local investment and the efforts of the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).
A record 1,087 new patients were placed with NHS dentists in Doncaster last month. This brought to 6,240 the number of new Doncaster patients who have been allocated an NHS dentist in the last 12 months - an average of 120 a week.
The previous mon
thly best was March this year when 748 patients were helped.
The extra capacity is the fruit of Doncaster Primary Care Trust's £2 million plan to create more appointments for patients by recruiting an additional 10 dentists to the area and opening two new dental surgeries in the borough.
So far, four extra dentists have been recruited to existing practices in Askern, Bessacarr, Edlington and Skellow and a further two appointments are in the pipeline for Armthorpe and Carcroft.
Additionally, plans to open two new surgeries in the Balby and Thorne areas – with two dentists in each - are at an advanced stage, with the PCT now in negotiation with preferred contractors.
Health chiefs are confident that by April 2009, both new surgeries will be up and running and all 10 dentists will be at work, creating further opportunities for Doncaster people to be placed with an NHS dentist.
Doncaster PCT Chief Executive Jayne Brown said: "We have listened to local people who have told us of their frustration at not being able to see an NHS dentist and this is our first step towards tackling the problem.
"We know we still have some way to go but the signs are excellent in that the extra investment we are placing in local dental is already starting to pay-off.
"We have a very good relationship with local dentists and we appreciate the way that they have worked with us to improve local NHS dental services for Doncaster people.
"We have also invested a further £600,000 in improving access to orthodontic services for people who need specialist dental care with the result that the local waiting list for this treatment is now down to six months.
"Yet just 12 months ago patients had to wait over two years before they could access this service."
Currently, 70 per cent of the Doncaster population – 202,000 people - have a regular dentist and the PCT is eager to raise that figure. It is making it easier for people across the borough to access routine NHS treatment at high street dental surgeries by centralising all enquiries through Doncaster PCT's PALS.
PALS manager Annis Green said: "Dentists contact us directly when they have capacity to take on new patients and we hold this information on their behalf."
Patients are asked to ring 01302 768550 weekdays between 9am and 5pm to check which dentists are taking on new patients.
