Powys Teaching Health Board has launched a temporary mobile dental unit at Bronllys Community Hospital to address the region’s NHS dental service gaps. This new initiative follows the unit’s successful deployment in Hay-on-Wye, where it helped reduce unmet dental demand. The mobile service will remain at Bronllys Community Hospital for several months, offering essential dental care to local residents.
Warren Tolley, Dental Director at the health board, outlined the unit’s operation: “The mobile unit is staffed with a dedicated team, including a registered dental nurse, senior dental officer, and a driver/administrative officer. Our experience in Hay-on-Wye showed that this service can significantly reduce NHS dental demand, and we are now aiming to replicate that success at Bronllys.”
The unit will operate five days a week but will not function like a traditional NHS practice. Patients will be invited to attend either the morning or afternoon session and will be seen as soon as possible. While wait times may occur, this approach is intended to ensure that as many local residents as possible receive care during the day.
The service will primarily cater to those on the existing dental waiting list in Powys, offering a single course of treatment. For those experiencing urgent dental issues, such as pain or swelling, immediate access can be arranged via the 111 phone line.
While the temporary unit will provide a wide range of core dental services, patients requiring more complex treatments may be referred to other facilities, such as the Breconshire War Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Tolley emphasized that the service is available to anyone residing in Powys or registered with a Powys GP, regardless of their location. “The health board is investing significantly in this service, but we also need local residents to help us by maintaining good oral hygiene, including regular brushing and limiting sugary foods and drinks,” he said.
To ensure the efficiency of the service, patients who miss appointments or cancel at short notice will be returned to the waiting list.
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