New NHS dental clinic is planned

South Worcestershire NHS Primary Care Trust wants to build the surgery off Osborne Road, in the Link.

The site is next to Seaford Court, the proposed location for Malv-ern's long awaited new community hospital.

A planning application has already been submitted to Malvern Hills District Council. It shows a building with two surgeries, an office, staff room and waiting room, plus parking space for a mobile surgery van.

The estimated cost of the project is £270,000.

It will be the latest in a series of dental access centres in Worcestershire, three of which are up and running elsewhere in the county.

Dr Alan McMichael, consultant in dental public health with the primary care trust, said: "There have been problems with accessing NHS dentistry in this area for some time."

Earlier this year, one surgery in the town announced it was phasing out the provision of NHS care.

The new surgery will offer dental care on the NHS for people who are not registered as NHS patients with an existing dentist.

Such people currently have to pay private practice rates, travel to one of the existing dental access centres or forgo dental treatment altogether.

Dr McMichael said it would take more than a year to build the clinic and get it running once the planning application has been approved.

Meanwhile, NHS service is offered from a mobile unit which is parked at the Victoria Road Health Centre, Malvern Link, two days a week.