AS part of our role of representing the Council Tax-payers of Malvern, town councillors have been attending meetings of both the Strategic Health Authority and the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT). This is particularly important at the moment to emphasise the need to progress and press for an appropriately sized new hospital for Malvern.

Attending a recent PCT meeting I was interested and surprised to hear that a dental access centre has been established in Malvern to provide NHS treatment. Interestingly the PCT claim that by phoning NHS Direct you can obtain the number. My experience drew a blank, as they did not seem to know the Malvern centre existed!

However, the Malvern Link Health Centre came up trumps, as usual, being able to provide the number, which is 612754.

When I phoned the lady was most helpful and explained how you can get treatment for both emergency and check-up needs .

If you could publish this letter it could help Malvern residents avoid the worst effects of the dental crisis you identified.

Paul Tuthill, Malvern town councillor, Lower Howsell, Malvern.