New dental practice in Wellington pauses taking on NHS patients

Transcript

00:00Wellington's newest dental practice has paused taking on NHS patients due to overwhelming demand from local residents.

00:09The NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board has been striving to increase NHS appointments within dental desserts,

00:16that is, areas within the county where relatively few people can access an NHS dentist.

00:22Health bosses confirmed earlier in September that Wellington Dental Care,

00:27based on the Lowmore Industrial Estate at the town's northern edge,

00:31would begin taking expressions of interest from local residents, with a phases opening beginning in October.

00:38But the practice has now had to pause these expressions of interest after nearly 4,000 patients got in touch, asking for an appointment.