UK - Extra dental places fill gap for Cumbrian patients
Extra dental places fill gap for Cumbrian patients
By Emily Parsons
Last updated at 12:29, Thursday, 24 May 2012
The long wait for an NHS dentist is over for many Cumbrians thanks to a major boost in capacity.
Residents who have waited months to see a dentist have been given the first opportunity to snap up the new places.
NHS Cumbria wrote to patients on the county’s Dental Database, informing them that it has “recently secured adequate capacity” across Cumbria.
Attached to the letter was a list of 21 dental practices countywide, including 12 in the north and west Cumbria regions. There is an additional practice in Maryport only accepting under-18 patients.
While priority is being given to those who have waited longest since having treatment, there is also a focus on getting as many children into routine NHS treatment as possible.
Anyone receiving a letter is warned though that each practice has a limited number of places and contact must be made and an appointment booked within two weeks of receipt of the letter.
Eric Rooney is a consultant in dental public health for NHS Cumbria. He said: “In Cumbria we’ve been working towards securing people on the dental database who’ve been waiting with an NHS dental place as quickly as possible for a number of years, investing in both new dental surgeries and additional dental places. Since we received the money in February we’ve send out letters to 8,600 people who had no access to NHS dentistry, offering them the chance to register for an NHS dental place in the county.
“But the best way people can look after their teeth and gums is by brushing regularly using a fluoride toothpaste as well as regular visits to the dentist.”
New figures by the NHS Information Centre reveal 4.3 million people in the north west now have access to an NHS dentist, thanks to an additional funding boost of £28m.
The extra investment sits alongside a dental public health campaign called Smile4life.
By Emily Parsons
Last updated at 12:29, Thursday, 24 May 2012
The long wait for an NHS dentist is over for many Cumbrians thanks to a major boost in capacity.
Residents who have waited months to see a dentist have been given the first opportunity to snap up the new places.
NHS Cumbria wrote to patients on the county’s Dental Database, informing them that it has “recently secured adequate capacity” across Cumbria.
Attached to the letter was a list of 21 dental practices countywide, including 12 in the north and west Cumbria regions. There is an additional practice in Maryport only accepting under-18 patients.
While priority is being given to those who have waited longest since having treatment, there is also a focus on getting as many children into routine NHS treatment as possible.
Anyone receiving a letter is warned though that each practice has a limited number of places and contact must be made and an appointment booked within two weeks of receipt of the letter.
Eric Rooney is a consultant in dental public health for NHS Cumbria. He said: “In Cumbria we’ve been working towards securing people on the dental database who’ve been waiting with an NHS dental place as quickly as possible for a number of years, investing in both new dental surgeries and additional dental places. Since we received the money in February we’ve send out letters to 8,600 people who had no access to NHS dentistry, offering them the chance to register for an NHS dental place in the county.
“But the best way people can look after their teeth and gums is by brushing regularly using a fluoride toothpaste as well as regular visits to the dentist.”
New figures by the NHS Information Centre reveal 4.3 million people in the north west now have access to an NHS dentist, thanks to an additional funding boost of £28m.
The extra investment sits alongside a dental public health campaign called Smile4life.
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