Dentists

NHS Dentistry – A Local Success 

Patients living in Bournemouth and Poole should not experience problems in accessing 

NHS dentistry, confirmed the Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust. 

Last April (2006) heralded a major change in the way in which NHS dentistry is provided 

and commissioned with the introduction of a new contract for all NHS dental practices.  

This included revised and simpler NHS patients charges, and a change in the 

responsibility for urgent dental care out of surgery hours.  This responsibility has now been 

passed directly to Primary Care Trusts. 

As part of this process, Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust has now 

commissioned 68 NHS practices to provide continuing NHS dental care with some 

practices also funded to develop and expand services.  In addition, an out-of-hours service 

has been developed for those people without a dentist who are in pain and need advice – 

contact can be made by telephoning 0845 7010401 in the evening, weekends or Bank 

Holidays.  

Since the introduction of the changes there has been capacity to see and treat more 

patients and this remains available.  Currently, 15 practices (32 dentists) are accepting 

new NHS patients across the Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust area.  

Patients wishing to receive NHS dental care can contact the Dorset Dental Helpline on 

01202 854443 for details of their nearest practice with capacity to treat more NHS patients.