3,000 queue for Ceredigion dentists

Three new surgeries are planned for Flintshire which could eventually serve 37,000 patients.

Two practices with eight new dentists in Gwynedd, serving an estimated 18,000 patients, are also planned.

And in Conwy more than 27,000 NHS places with an additional 14 dentists are in the pipeline.

Local health boards across the north west and north east of Wales are holding talks to secure more NHS places for the population.

The move comes after years of diminishing NHS cover in the region.

Wyn Thomas, chief executive of Conwy Local Health Board, said: "We have had a number of practices which have left the NHS in the past few years, we see this as a way of getting NHS dentists to the levels which used to be provided in Conwy."

Mr Thomas said in excess of 27,000 places are expected to be provided in the area.

Confirmation of funding as well as planning issues have yet to be finalised, he said.

Talks are being held with two existing dental practices as organising a further 14 new dentists to provide NHS places.

Flintshire's boost

Flintshire's 37,000 NHS places - with the addition of three new surgeries by March - is also subject to planning approval and funding approval from the Welsh Assembly Government.

It is hoped surgeries in Mold, Deeside and Flint would each provide five dentist chairs by the end of March.

The local health board has approved the company Oasis Healthcare to run the three Flintshire surgeries.

Gwynedd Local Health Board has also announced it is also holding talks with Oasis about the development of two new NHS dental practices with eight NHS dentists.

Chief executive Grace Lewis-Parry said: "Gwynedd LHB is delighted to work with WAG and partners under these new arrangements which will significantly improve access to dental care in Gwynedd."

It is hoped the surgeries will be based in Caernarfon and Pehryndeudraeth.

'Difficulties'

Health minister Dr Brian Gibbons, speaking back at the end of January when he visited a surgery in Tonypandy, said: ""I am more than aware of the difficulties people have faced in Wales trying to access NHS dental care but we are starting to turn the corner."

"Over the coming months patients will see the benefits of the new PDS (personal dental schemes) as they are able to register with the dental practices who have created the new extra places.

Elsewhere in Wales, private company Denticare is creating places for up to 26,000 new NHS patients.

Up to 3,000 people went to register on Monday morning for a new NHS surgery in Lampeter.