Thousands more people across Devon accessing an NHS dentist
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Over 60,000 more people in
NHS Devon figures reveal that 426,000 people in
One of the main reasons for the huge increase has been the success of the NHS Devon dental helpline, which gives advice on where to find an NHS dentist, and also how to access dental care in an emergency.
Andrew Harris, responsible for dentistry for NHS Devon, said “Some people still have the view that they cannot get access to a NHS Dentist – but this is simply not true in
“We have 38 practices throughout the county that are taking new NHS patients today, including places where there have been some access problems in the past:
“While we are making great progress, we know that there is much more to do.”
The helpline, run by Devon Dental, a not-for-profit organisation, has received an average of over 1000 calls a month since it opened two years ago.
People who use the service find the process simple and quick, according to Pauline Thayre, who manages the dental helpline team.
Pauline said: “Our friendly team answers calls promptly and has information on NHS dental services in your area.
“It’s great to know that we’re helping people get the treatment they need without delay.
“We would encourage anyone who still needs a dentist to call the helpline on 0845 002 0034, 01392 822348 or e-mail devondentalhelpline@nhs.net.”
