New Thame dentist practice (From Bucks Free Press)

New Thame dentist practice

4:33pm Saturday 16th February 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

TOOTHACHE sufferers in Thame are in for some welcome relief with the opening of a new NHS dentist in the town centre.

The practice has been open to patients since December, but the formal cutting of the ribbon took place last Friday.

Thame House Dental Practice, which is based in the town's High Street, has already been swamped with thousands of patients.

Barry Cockroft, chief dental officer for England, helped snip the ribbon at the opening ceremony.

He said: "We're absolutely delighted. The town didn't have an NHS dentist before and there are 5,000 people already registered.

"There was obviously a significant demand for a new dentist," he said.

New arrangements introduced in 2006 have allowed Primary Care Trusts (PCT) to fund more national health dentists in areas where they are most needed.

England's chief dental officer said he believed many people still thought that NHS dentists were an endangered species, even though more were gradually being established.

He said: "In some areas there is a perception that there is not any service but places like this are opening up.

"It's actually very significant in London - there's no problem finding an NHS dentist, but people think there's no service there," he claimed.

Carlos Clarke, a partner in the practice, explained that the new dental centre had won the tender put out by the Primary Care Trust.

He said: "Basically the big change is that the PCT decide where they need the provision of dental practices - they can separate it out a bit more."

The new dental practice in Thame will take on NHS patients from any area who are willing to travel to the centre.

• Print
• Email
• Share