THREE new dentists could boost NHS dental care provision in Malvern.

If approval is given, a new practice could open in Spring Lane offering up to 3,000 people NHS treatment.

Dr Ahmed Paruk, from Birmingham, has applied to Malvern Hills District Council to change use of a building on 58 Spring Lane to a practice.

The move is supported by South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, which, if approval is given, will award Dr Paruk a 'five-figure' start-up grant.

Alan McMichael, dental health consultant for the PCT, said: "If all this comes to fruition, the expectation is that within six months we could have a dentist working there who initially could treat up to about 3,000 patients.

"The discussions I've had with Dr Paruk suggest we might not even stop at that point. The plan was to give the practice the capacity to hold another surgery, so another dentist could be introduced further down the line."

Mr McMichael said he was also in discussion with a dentist who is seeking premises for another NHS practice in the town. He said the PCT would like to hear from anyone with suitable premises.

"We have got a problem in Malvern with dentists getting rid of NHS patients but we are working to resolve that," he said, "We've always said to people that we're not going to be able to change things overnight, but we are working very determinedly to rebuild capacity for the people that have lost it."