THOUSANDS more people could get access to NHS dental treatment if plans for another surgery in Malvern come to fruition.

Dr Tamzid Mirza has lodged an application with Malvern Hills District Council to convert 58 Spring Lane into a dental practice with two treatment rooms.

If the scheme is approved, it would create another 5,000 NHS dental places for the town, filling a gap in dental provision. The news comes just over a month after Malvern's Richmond Dental Surgery announced it was taking on NHS patients, with scores of residents flocking to sign up.

Sarah Collins, South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust's head of performance, said the latest application was in the trust's plan to increase NHS dental provision in Malvern.

The PCT has submitted a letter of support to the council, stating that 8,500 registrations have been lost from Malvern practices since March 2003 and that the situation is grave.

Dr Mirza has been working with the trust to find suitable premises in the town since last October.

Mrs Collins said two dentists would be employed at the surgery and, if approved, it would open in April or May next year.

She added: "We're very hopeful permission will be granted. If we don't get permission it'll set us back. As it's not for the PCT to drive these forward, we're reliant on dentists as businessmen to start these up."

Meanwhile, Mrs Collins estimated that the Richmond Road dental practice still has places for another 1,000 or so patients.

Over in Worcester, another dentist is set to start at the Green Centre, off Gresham Road, Dines Green in November, taking on another 2,500 patients over the next six to nine months.

The Spring Lane application is due to be determined at a planning meeting in Malvern tonight.

Patients wanting to register with an NHS dentist in Malvern are asked to call the Worcestershire NHS dental helpline on 01905 760111.