NHS trumpets decision to take dental care on the road (From Daily Echo)

NHS trumpets decision to take dental care on the road

8:03am Tuesday 31st August 2010 in

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RELIEF could be in sight for residents in rural Hampshire struggling to find an NHS dentist.

A new mobile unit will provide services in the Meon Valley, starting on September 6.

Health chiefs hope to extend its coverage to the Stockbridge area in the coming months.

It is the latest boost for dental care in Hampshire.

Only on Saturday the Daily Echo revealed how there were now 20,000 NHS dental places available across the county.

The latest service is designed to plug a gap in NHS dental coverage that was identified in the district last year.

Health bosses agreed to provide funding to set up a new practice in Winchester to deal with a shortfall in the city.

That surgery is due to open at Anglo St James House in Southgate Street within the next few months.

However, the NHS realised that some residents in rural areas might struggle to reach the city. Natalie Jones, lead commissioning manager for primary care dental services, said: “The new mobile service will visit each of the areas on a regular basis and provide NHS high street dental services.

“The mobile service is very flexible and most of the treatment a patient needs will be provided in the unit.”

To start with, it will treat patients in Bishop’s Waltham, East Meon and Wickham.

Combined with the surgery in Winchester, the NHS hopes to treat up to 9,500 new patients.

Places for the mobile unit and practice in Southgate Street will be released in batches to avoid a sudden surge of new callers.

Visit hampshired-entalhelpline.nhs.uk or call the dental helpline on 0845 050 8345 from 9am to 5pm on weekdays to register.