RESIDENTS in the Wensleydale area of the Yorkshire Dales can look forward to improved access to dental services from this autumn.

Health bosses at the North Yorkshire Primary Care Trust, like many others across the UK, are working with private companies to improve dental provision and have joined with Primecare Oral Health Services to improve access in the Wensleydale area.

we identified the Wensleydale area as being in need of NHS dental
provision

Jane Marshall - North Yorkshire PCT

The new service will be based in Leyburn and follows the recent opening of new dental services in Bedale and Northallerton. The PCT say it forms part of a longer-term commitment to ensure that people in this part of the Yorkshire Dales can have access to NHS dental services.

The project has encountered some delays over recent months, which have caused some issues for local residents. However, the signing of the lease for the new premises this month will enable the service to move forward quickly and there is anticipation that it will be fully up and running during October, said the PCT.

North Yorkshire and York PCT's Director of Commissioning and Service Development, Jane Marshall, said: "We appreciate that the delay in setting up the service in Leyburn has caused some concerns for local residents, however, we have been working hard to secure the right accommodation for the new service to ensure it can offer patients the best possible care.

"Following recent national changes to the way dentists work in the NHS we identified the Wensleydale area as being in need of NHS dental provision.

"The Leyburn service is in addition to the service in Bedale and Northallerton, which is already providing NHS dental care to local residents. By securing accommodation we can move forward quickly with our plans to set up the permanent service in Leyburn."

Primecare has a database of people who have indicated to the PCT that they are awaiting NHS dental care. These people will be contacted to offer a first appointment when the service becomes operational later this year. Anyone who has not previously contacted the PCT to register on the database should do so by phoning 01845 573 865.