A second NHS dental surgery for SE Cornwall
Following extensive lobbying by local people in need of dental care, SE Cornwall is to have a second NHS dental surgery as part of a pilot scheme to extend Personal Dental Services in Cornwall.
The new surgery is to be in Liskeard - where there are hundreds of people who cannot obtain NHS dentistry
It follows Wednesday's announcement by health Minister John Denham that nearly half a million pounds is to be made available for additional dental services within the Cornwall Health Authority.
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The money will be used to pay the salaries of five extra dentists and will bring the number of NHS dentists operating in Cornwall up to 23.
The only new one in SE Cornwall will be in Liskeard.
It means that nearly 8,000 more people will shortly have access to NHS dental care in a total of 18 locations across the county.
An extra quarter of a million pounds plus is also being made available in Cornwall, as part of a national Investing in Dentistry scheme.
Given the previous concern over lack of NHS dental provision in the town, the new centre will be besieged by would-be patients as soon as the location is revealed.
A health authority spoke-sman said that advertisements had been placed to find dental staff and it was hoped that the new surgery would be open some time in October.