Opening new Wellington NHS dental practice
Wellington’s new NHS dental practice – which has completed more than 2,200 appointments since its launch in October – has been officially opened by Taunton and Wellington MP, Gideon Amos.
He was accompanied by Jonathan Higman, Chief Executive of NHS Somerset; Dr Esmail Harunani, Partner, Dentistry for You; and Nadeem Harunani, Admin Director, Dentistry for You.
Others present at the ceremony included the Mayor, Cllr Janet Lloyd, local councillors and members of the practice team.
Wellington Dental Care, operated by Dentistry For You, is part of NHS Somerset’s plan to improve access to NHS dental services across the county.
It was the first launch in Somerset for ten years – another practice opened in Chard this week with a third, in Crewkerne, to follow.
Nearly 4,000 people registered for an appointment and the demand was so high that the list is currently suspended.
Gideon said: “It’s great to have a new NHS dental practice in Wellington. I am very impressed with the commitment of the partners to providing affordable NHS treatment.
“It’s also positive that Dentistry For You has been able to create local employment opportunities and bring new dentists and therapists offering NHS services to Wellington.
“I know from my recent dental survey and conversations on doorsteps that improving access to NHS dentistry, especially for children, is very important to local people – and I have been working with NHS Somerset’s leaders to make sure local voices are heard.
“With other NHS practices also opening in Chard and Crewkerne, it is a step in the right direction for Somerset, but we still need additional NHS dental capacity for local people.”
On behalf of Dentistry for You, Nadeem Harunani said that 2,281 appointments had been completed and more than 1,000 of those had been for people living in the TA21 (Wellington) postcode area.
“We are still working our way through the 4,000 expressions of interest and as soon as we are nearing the end, we will re-open the list."
He added that, since opening, a fourth dentist had joined the practice and a fifth had been recruited.