Wellington’s newest dental practice is set to offer a substantial increase in NHS dental appointments before Christmas, according to Somerset health officials.
The NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) has been actively working to address the shortage of NHS dental access in so-called ‘dental deserts’—areas where limited NHS dental services force residents to either pay for private care or go without treatment.
Wellington Dental Care, located on Lowmoor Industrial Estate at the town’s northern edge, began accepting expressions of interest from patients in early September, with a phased opening starting in October. However, due to overwhelming demand — nearly 4,000 patients responded — the practice briefly paused its intake in late September.
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Thanks to the successful recruitment of two additional dental professionals, the practice and NHS Somerset now confirm that more NHS patients will be able to secure appointments before the Christmas period.
Unlike GP surgeries, dental patients do not register with a specific practice due to the nature of the NHS dental contract, which was introduced in 2006. This means patients across the UK can seek dental care at any practice in Somerset, often traveling out of the county for treatment.
Sukeina Kassam, NHS Somerset’s Director of Primary Care, emphasized the importance of Wellington Dental Care in meeting local demand. “While one practice cannot solve all of Somerset’s challenges, this is a major and exciting development for the town,” she said. “It will help thousands more people access NHS dental care they deserve as part of several initiatives to expand dental services across the county.”
The practice has commissioned 20,000 units of dental activity (UDAs) annually—a measurement that varies by treatment type, with basic check-ups consuming fewer UDAs than complex procedures like root canals or extractions. Kassam noted that further expansions may be possible within their financial limits, as local commissioning control rests with NHS Somerset.
Funding limitations mean NHS dental services can only cover about half of Somerset’s population. Of the initial 4,000 expressions of interest, 53.1% came from Wellington’s TA21 postcode area, with another 36.2% from the broader TA postcode region.
One local beneficiary, Heather Bubb from West Buckland, described the relief of accessing NHS dental care after facing prohibitive private treatment costs. She shared, “After years of paying taxes and national insurance, I never expected to struggle so much for dental care in my retirement.” Heather’s local NHS appointments will provide her and her husband, who had not seen a dentist in five years, much-needed relief.
Dr. Nadeem Harunani, whose family has operated dental practices since 1986 and who leads the new Wellington practice, highlighted over two years of effort to secure NHS contracts and suitable premises. “We believe in providing both NHS and private care to give everyone access,” he said. “Our experience opening clinics in other ‘dental deserts’ taught us to manage demand efficiently through online patient registrations, avoiding chaotic queues like those seen elsewhere.”
Currently staffed with three treatment rooms and clinical teams, the practice expects two more clinicians to join by mid-December. This expansion will allow the reopening of patient registrations for NHS care. Dr. Harunani encourages residents to monitor the practice’s website for the latest updates.
Local MP Gideon Amos welcomed the new facility, reinforcing his commitment to advocate for improved NHS dental access. “Wellington and Taunton urgently need restored NHS dental services,” he stated, “and this new practice is a vital first step after years of limited provision.”
Additionally, two more dental practices are planned to open in Somerset by early 2026, one in Chard and another in Crewkerne, further expanding NHS dental capacity.