NHS dentist in Chard sees huge level of demand
They've had to pause expressions of interest
A new NHS dentist is set to open in Chard - but has already had to pause sign-ups after a huge level of demand.
One Smile Dental will start welcoming patients from December, but expressions of interest have been paused for now.
The team say they hope to reopen the online portal for new patient registrations in the coming days, and all sign-ups must be completed online.
Local MP Adam Dance called the news of a new dental surgery as 'fantastic news'.
He said: "A brand new NHS dental practice will open in the town on 2 December. This is a very important step forward for our community. For too long, far too many people in Chard have struggled to get NHS dental care. I have raised this many times in Parliament and with NHS Somerset, and I am pleased to see real progress at last.
"To make sure this new service goes to the people who need it most, we want new patients to come from the Chard area, where the need has been identified and where access has been so poor.
"I am very aware that there is a dental crisis across the whole of Somerset, and indeed across the country. I will continue to push for better dental care for every community. But this new practice is a positive and important step, with hopefully more improvements on the horizon.
"Please do look out for correspondence from NHS Somerset about how to register.
"This new practice is a major improvement for Chard and a clear sign that our calls for better NHS dental provision are being heard. I will keep pushing until everyone in South Somerset can get the care they need."