The way NHS dental care is provided changed dramatically in April 2006 with the introduction of the new dental contract by the government. One of the major changes in this new contract was the way in which funding was provided to allow dentists to see NHS patients.

Up until April 2006 virtually any dentist within the UK could open a practice, see patients under the NHS, complete a form of the treatment carried out and receive payment. This changed with the introduction of the new contract, which meant that any dentist wishing see NHS patients would now have to secure funding from the local Primary Care Trust (PCT) in order to be able to see NHS patients.

We appreciate that access to an NHS dentist is important for many people and we had hoped to be able to provide both private and NHS dental care. Subsequently, we have worked hard to secure a level of NHS dental care for Budleigh Salterton. It is therefore, with regret that after several positive meetings with the Primary Care Trust and an application for funding to allow us to see NHS patients, we have so far been unsuccessful in securing NHS funding.

‘The PCT has recently undertaken an exercise to identify those areas where the existing levels of NHS dentistry are below the Devon PCT average. These priorities are also linked to areas of known deprivation. Consequently, the trust has no immediate plans to commission additional NHS dental services in Budleigh Salterton. However, the PCT is looking at dental provision in the wider East Devon area and is expecting to commission services there shortly.’ 

Devon Primary Care Trust (PCT) - 20th February 2008

With our practice now open, it is our aim now to focus on providing high quality private dental care, with a wide range of treatment choices and payment options, to make this care as accessible as possible.

If you wish to register specifically for NHS dental care please telephone 0845 002 0034 to register your details; your details will then be passed onto the next available NHS dental practice with spaces once it is commissioned by the Primary Care Trust. For NHS dental emergencies please contact Exeter Dental Access Centre on:  01392 405 700.

We hope to be able to continue working closely with the PCT and will keep the NHS situation under review and thank everyone for their support to date in trying to obtain NHS funding for Budleigh Salterton.

Ashbury Dental Care - 53 East Budleigh Road - Budleigh Salterton - EX9 6EW