The lack of NHS dental provision in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge is “unacceptable” and needs to be addressed by county health bosses, town councillors said this week.
Councillor Joanna Burridge said there are too few dentists offering NHS dental services in the towns.
“In Burnham there’s just one dentist accepting NHS patients, and in Highbridge there’s also just one, which only accepts children. Isn’t it time that something was done?,” she questioned at Monday’s town council meeting.
The comments are backed up by information on the Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust website, which shows the one local dentist offering NHS treatment is the Burnham Dental Access Centre at the town’s War Memorial Hospital. Highbridge’s Dental Practice only accepts NHS patients aged 0-18.
The PCT website states that neither The College Street Dental Practice nor The Dental Practice in Abingdon Street currently accept NHS customers.
“Given the ongoing increase in housing in this area and the resulting population increase, we need better NHS provision,” said Cllr Burridge, pictured.
Cllr Chris Williams agreed: “It is an unsatisfactory and unacceptable position. We’re worse off here in Burnham and Highbridge than many other areas.”
Cllr Mansfield said “it is all down to funding” and pointed out that there are NHS dentists in other parts of the Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust area.
RELATED LINKS:
Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust [External site]
