NHS invests £1m in dentist places

The new options will include new dental services and surgeries.

More than 20,000 people in Cornwall are to get access to NHS dentists as part of £1m of health investment.

The NHS for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly said the money would improve treatment for 20,700 people.

It said improvements would focus on the mid, north and south east areas of the county because of current patient need.

The move will see a new NHS practice in Saltash for 5,000 people after the town's last NHS surgery said it was to go private.

About 5,100 of the places will become available later this year in Bodmin, Camelford, Falmouth, Liskeard and Newquay.

Additional provision for 100 orthodontic patients in St Austell will also be available later this year.

Next year 2,000 patients in Tregony and 2,500 patients in St Austell will get access to new NHS dentistry services.

PATIENT PLACES FOR 2009 Bodmin - 1,800 Camelford - 1,300 Falmouth - 1,300 Liskeard - 200 Newquay - 500

Provision for an extra 4,000 patients in Wadebridge over an 18-month period will begin in April 2010 and additional provision for 2,000 patients in Lostwithiel will be available by May 2010.

The new NHS practice in Saltash will open by Spring 2010.

The news comes after the town's last remaining NHS dental surgery, Saltash Dental Surgery, announced in September it was to become a private practice.

The NHS said that until the new practice opened patients would need to access emergency NHS treatment at the primary care dental service at St Barnabas Hospital in Saltash.

Antek Lejk, interim director of primary care for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, said: "We know that a real priority for people is being able to see an NHS dentist close to where they live."