WELLINGTON, SOMERSET — A new NHS dental clinic has opened in Wellington, offering relief to residents who have faced limited access to affordable dental care for over a decade.
Heather Bubb, 77, who had been with her dentist for more than 25 years before the practice went private, welcomed the opening. In 2023, she faced a £5,500 bill she could not afford. “It feels wonderful,” she said, adding that as a pensioner, private dental care was beyond her means.
The clinic, run by Dentistry for You, opened on an industrial estate and took on 4,000 patients before its official launch. Dr. Nadeem Harunani, the lead dentist, said the clinic aims to improve NHS dental access in what was previously described by health officials as a “dental desert.”
“Bringing the clinic to Wellington was a challenge, but seeing the community response makes it all worthwhile,” Dr. Harunani said. The clinic will reopen patient registrations once additional staff are employed.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson hailed the opening as a positive step for local families. “This government inherited a broken NHS dental system, but we are addressing it through our Plan for Change,” they said, highlighting ongoing reforms aimed at improving access, prevention, and fair compensation for NHS dentists.
