New dentist surgery 'could take on 9,000 new patients'

A new dental surgery could take on 9,000 more NHS patients in the next three years, a clinical director has claimed.

Plans have been put forward to turn the former tourist information centre in Cromer, Norfolk, into a surgery.

Dr Jeff Shearer, from the Dental Design Studio firm, which already has a practice in the town, said he hoped it would be approved by North Norfolk District Council in the next few weeks.

Norfolk has previously been described as "the Sahara of dental deserts" by health secretary Wes Streeting because of a shortage of dentists.

Earlier this week, plans for a dental school in Norwich received a boost with the news the government was creating an extra 50 undergraduate dentistry places per year.

It is thought that offering training at the University of East Anglia (UEA) would encourage dental students to work locally.

Last year, North Norfolk councillors agreed to lease Cromer's former tourist information centre to a dentist on the basis that it would have "wider social and economic" benefits.

Shearer said his company was behind the plans and, if planning permission was given, it should open "towards the end of this summer".

He added that moving from its current premises in West Street would allow the practice to increase its number of NHS patients from 5,000 to 14,000 over the next three years.

Describing "massive demand" for care, he backed the idea of the UEA having a training school.

"The biggest challenge is always recruitment and finding dentists that are happy to come to the area," he said.

The UEA is still not guaranteed a dental school as it is has to apply to the government for the right to have undergraduate places.

But vice chancellor Prof David Maguire seemed confident after three years of campaigning.

"We are in the home straight with the finishing line not too far away from us," he said.

He said with courses including medicine "massively subscribed" he did not think there would be a shortage of interest.

If the UEA does get the places it could start dental training courses in September next year.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.