Dentist plans to take on 1,000 new NHS patients

Konstantinos Petalotis (L) and Stefanos Kyriakidis say the expansion plans are exciting

A dental practice has announced expansion plans that it hopes will allow it to take on 1,000 additional NHS patients.

Omega Dental, in Bedminster, Bristol, wants to move from its current home on North Street to the former HSBC bank on the corner of Cannon Street and East Street.

The plans also include flats, a health centre and a pharmacy.

Omega Dental's Stefanos Kyriakidis, said: "This is really exciting. The plans will allow us to have more dentists, more treatment rooms and take on more patients."

The practice plans to convert a former HSBC bank building

It currently has 6,500 patients and if the plans for the 'health hub' are approved, the staff team of 12 would double, while the practice would be based across one accessible single floor.

Omega Dental said it planned to take on 2,000 new patients in total, with about half being NHS patients.

It needs to apply for NHS funding to be able to take on the additional NHS patients and said it would prioritise the families of existing patients.

However, the practice has said it could be up to two years before the new service is operational.

'People are desperate'

Mr Kyriakidis, said: “It will depend on additional funding from the NHS, but we are confident we will be able to take on about a further 2,000 new patients – up to half of those could be NHS patients.

"These are really significant increases at a time when so many people are desperate for NHS dental care, with the system under enormous pressure."

Formal planning permission has been submitted, with a decision expected in the coming weeks.