Wellington’s newest dental practice, Wellington Dental Care, has temporarily stopped accepting new NHS patients after receiving nearly 4,000 expressions of interest from local residents. This overwhelming response highlights the urgent need for accessible dental care in Somerset, a county long challenged by “dental deserts”—areas with limited NHS dental services forcing patients to seek private care or go untreated.
The NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) had announced plans for the practice, located in the Lowmoor Industrial Estate at Wellington’s northern edge, to gradually open in October. Wellington Dental Care, operated by DentistryForYou, was set to provide both NHS and private appointments, creating up to 12 new jobs in the area.
Dr. Bernie Marden, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Somerset, noted that over half of the expressions of interest came from residents within the TA21 postcode, covering Wellington and nearby villages, with an additional 36.2% from the broader TA area. She emphasized that while the new practice cannot meet all dental needs alone, it represents a critical step toward improving local access to NHS dental services.
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Unlike GP surgeries, patients are not registered with specific dental practices—a system introduced in 2006 under previous government dental contracts—allowing anyone in the UK to seek treatment at any NHS dentist. However, in practice, many Somerset residents often travel outside their county to find NHS dental care.
Wellington Dental Care is contracted to provide 20,000 units of dental activity (UDA) annually. UDAs quantify dental treatments, with more extensive procedures like root canals requiring more UDAs than routine check-ups.
Due to the overwhelming interest, the practice has paused further expressions of interest on its website to manage capacity. Elizabeth Fernandez, Group Manager at DentistryForYou, expressed optimism about reopening registrations once the practice is fully established, and they will continue collaborating with NHS Somerset to keep the community informed.
This development underscores ongoing efforts by NHS Somerset to address the region’s longstanding dental access challenges and increase available NHS dental appointments across the county.