Dental surgery cannot fill books despite NHS shortage elsewhere

In the face of a national crisis in dentistry over the lack of spaces, Healaugh Park surgery, in Yarm, east Cleveland, is desperately trying to fill hundreds of places.

Norwich-based Oasis Dental Care company said all its other 127 NHS, private and specialist practices across the country were busy.

But bosses are baffled by the 600 unfilled spaces at its Healaugh surgery.

Oasis marketing manager David Eglington said the company had advertised the practice and tried to persuade people attending the company's surgery in nearby Coulby Newham to switch to Yarm, but to no avail.

Mr Eglington said: "It is a problem. Yarm has a wonderful practice, a lovely, friendly team, enthusiastic and experienced.

"We have invested a lot of money - £150,000 - refurbishing the surgery and we can't understand it.

"We have done a fair bit of marketing. We have tried everything, but nothing not worked."

The practice is near Kirklevington roundabout, on the edge of Yarm.

Mr Eglington said: "It could be that it is a very unassuming building and people simply don't know there is a practice there, but we are improving the existing signs and putting more up."

The development comes a week after thousands of extra places with NHS dentists were announced for surgeries in North Yorkshire, which has been hit hardest by the shortage.

The scale of the problem was brought to national attention when hundreds of people queued for hours when a surgery opened in New Queen Street, Scarborough, in February.

A £2m scheme will see 11,000 more patients in North Yorkshire treated on the NHS over the next four years.

Michael Whitworth, chief executive of Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust, said the places would be created mainly in Scarborough.

As places become available, adults and children will be asked whether they wish to register.

The trust anticipate places being available in the autumn.