Somerset dental practice to expand to treat more patients

The dental practice has been treating patients since 2017

More patients will soon be treated by a Somerset dental practice after plans to expand its base were approved.

A flat on the first floor of the Church House Dental Clinic, in Bishop's Lydeard near Taunton, will be converted into a dental surgery and laboratory.

Dental practitioner Ulrich Nieuwenhuis applied to expand the premises in December, to accommodate a waiting list of about 300 patients.

The new clinic is expected to open before the end of the year.

The expansion, which was approved by Somerset Council on 26 February, will allow the business to recruit two more dentists, two hygienists and two dental nurses.

Patients in severe pain

In a statement from December, Mr Nieuwenhuis said the practice already offers 134 hours of clinic time, but the expansion will allow staff to increase this to 201 hours, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"Our services have become an extremely popular choice for most, including disabled and elderly as we have ground floor access with accessible parking for our patients," he said.

"Our capacity to see our current registered patients and helping new enquiries are proving difficult due to the sheer number of new enquiries and patients in severe pain, struggling with acute infections who call us every day."

Bishop's Lydeard and Cothelstone Parish Council also voted to support the plans in early-January, despite concerns about a lack of car parking spaces at the northern end of the village.