MORE than 15,000 patients will benefit from two new state-of-the-art dental surgeries in the county, health bosses have confirmed.

The practices are set to open in Worcester city centre and Pershore next month.

This is good news for the thousands of patients who lost out when more than half of NHS dentists in south Worcestershire stopped providing NHS dental care in April last year.

There will be 10,000 places available in Worcester and more than 5,000 in Pershore.

The dentists refused to sign new contracts that would have paid them per patient rather than for the work carried out, leaving 35,000 patients in the region without access to NHS treatment.

Six dentists will work at the Worcester practice that will open in St Mary's Street, the Arboretum, and be operated by Oasis Dental Care Ltd.

The Worcester News reported in March how Oasis - which was awarded a £600,000 contract by Worcestershire Primary Care Trust at the end of last year - was pinning its hopes on the site after original plans for a surgery in McNaught Place, the Arboretum, were refused planning permission by Worcester City Council.

The PCT has also confirmed a new NHS practice offering more than 5,000 places is opening in Pershore.

Again, Oasis Dental Care Ltd, will open the practice in May at 133 High Street, near to the new community hospital site.

Paul Bates, the PCT's chief executive said: "We are particularly delighted to be in the position to offer the replacement NHS dental access which they lost last April. The PCT has also assisted Oasis to provide state-of-the-art surgeries."

If a patient wanting to join the practice has not already spoken to the PCT they are asked to give their details to the dental helpline on 01905 760111.

Patients will not be able to get an appointment by turning up at the practice.