A RECORD 1,087 new patients were placed with NHS dentists in Doncaster last month - thanks to more local investment and the efforts of a team of patient liaison staff.
September's high 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 extra capacity is as a result of Doncaster Primary Care Trust's £2 million plan t
o create more appointments for patients by recruiting an additional ten 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.
Health chiefs are confident that by April 2009, both new surgeries will be up and running and all ten 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."
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