Cumbria to have 17,000 new places for patients
- Details
- Published: Sunday, 05 August 2012 06:44
- Written by News Editor
- Hits: 2117
| A total of 17,000 new NHS dental places are being offered to patients currently on Cumbria’s waiting list, according to local reportsEric Rooney, NHS Cumbria’s dental public health consultant, said: “It’s great news that already so many people have been able to get an NHS dental place as a result of this extra funding”. |
|
This follows a £1.5m funding boost recently secured by the county’s health authority to improve dental care. NHS Cumbria has now sent out over 17,000 letters to patients on the waiting list, offering them a chance to sign up with an NHS dentist.
The one-off funding grant was earmarked by the Department of Health back in March to help Cumbrians who have been on the county’s dental database for a long time. The cash has allowed more places to be secured at practices across the county who already offer NHS dentistry. Those who have been waiting the longest get priority.
The letter explains which dental surgeries across Cumbria currently have spaces and asks them to make contact with one of them to secure a place. However health bosses are warning that anyone sent a letter who does not make contact will be removed from the waiting list database.
Patients have three weeks to make contact with a chosen practice and should take their letter with them to their first dental appointment. Those who receive a letter but decide not to take up the offer of an NHS dental place are being asked to share their reasons via an online survey.
You need to be logged in to leave comments.
Report