Bosses at West Earlham Dental Practice in Norwich are seeking approval to build an extension at their premises in the Earlham West Centre. The proposed expansion aims to significantly increase the practice’s patient capacity, from around 10,000 to 25,000 patients.
The plan addresses the ongoing shortage of NHS dental services in Norwich and Norfolk, where access to care has been identified as one of the poorest in the country.
The practice’s agents argue that the expansion will help meet the substantial, unmet demand for NHS dental services in the area.
In addition to increasing patient capacity, the extension will include modern decontamination facilities, upgraded IT infrastructure, and a redesigned entrance and reception area to enhance patient flow, accessibility, and security.
The proposal highlights the area’s health inequalities, with evidence showing high levels of unmet dental needs. The agents stress that the extension represents a modest yet well-designed improvement to an established healthcare facility, aligning with local and national planning policies.
This proposal comes as MPs from Norfolk call on the government to tackle the ‘dental desert’ in the region. They have also urged the government to approve the creation of a new dental school at the University of East Anglia, which has received accreditation from the General Dental Council but requires government approval to begin enrolling students.