Residents of the Hay-on-Wye area on the NHS dental waiting list will have access to a new temporary community NHS dental service for the next three months.

Powys Teaching Health Board is providing the temporary unit at the Recreation Facilities on Brecon Road until December. The town has been chosen as the first stop for the mobile unit.

Dental Director with the health board, Warren Tolley, said: “The dental unit will be staffed by a dedicated team including a newly employed registered dental nurse, senior dental officer and driver/administrative officer.

“However, the five day a week service will not be the same as a regular NHS practice. In order that we can see as many patients as possible, people will be invited to come to the start of a session (either a morning or afternoon) and they will then be seen as soon as possible.”

“We appreciate that some patients may have to wait a little while, but this will mean that we can ensure that as many local people are seen during the day as possible.”

Patients will be invited to the service from the existing dental waiting list in Powys for a single course of treatment but there will also be an urgent access provision - for patients with dental pain or swelling - by calling the 111 phone line.

The temporary unit will be able to provide a wide range of core dental services, but where patients need additional treatment or support, they may need to be referred to other services including the dental department at Breconshire War Memorial Hospital.

Assistant Director of Primary Care with the health board, Jayne Lawrence paid tribute to the town council: “I’d really like to thank Hay on Wye Town Council as they’ve kindly given us space at the recreation ground to park up the temporary unit as well as given us access to the utilities that it needs. The team at the council has been really helpful in enabling us to fill this gap in NHS dental provision in the town and I can’t thank them enough.”

Ms Lawrence explained that the service will be for anyone on the dental waiting list who either lives in Powys or who lives outside Powys but is registered with Haygarth Medical Practice.

Councillor Fiona Howard is Chair of Hay on Wye Town Council. She commented: “We are excited to be part of the development of a mobile dental facility that will not only provide accessible dental care but also improve access for vulnerable resident to essential health services.

“This facility will ensure that all residents, regardless of their financial situation, can receive quality oral healthcare close to home. The opening of this centre is a major step towards promoting overall well-being, fostering a healthier community, and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to maintain their oral health.”

Dr Tolley also added: “The health board is putting a lot of money into providing this service but we also need Powys residents to do their bit to help us. You can help us by maintaining good oral health through regular brushing and cutting down on sugary food and drinks.”

He explained that patients who fail to attend will be returned to the dental waiting list including those who cancel appointments at short notice.

The temporary service is expected to be in Hay on Wye for three months. Later this autumn the health board will confirm the next location for this service.

James Evans, MS for Brecon & Radnorshire, has written to the health board to clarify what services this mobile unit can cover.   

Mr Evans said: “I welcome this initiative to provide more NHS dental cover in Powys. However, we have been told this mobile unit will provide a ‘range of core dental services’ but I am concerned that this will mean only check ups and basic treatments with patients having to be referred on to access further dental procedures at a later date.

“Whilst I think a mobile unit is a great idea for traveling to specific sites like schools/care homes etc, a mobile unit by its very nature will have its limitations and I am surprised the health board could not secure the use of their own permanent buildings to be able to offer a full range of dental treatments.  We will have to wait and see how many patients this mobile unit will treat over the next three months and how it will manage to operate in harsh winter weather.

“I urge anyone without an NHS dentist to register on the Powys Teaching Health Board’s waiting list by phoning 01686 252 808.”

More information can be found online at: www.pthb.nhs.wales/community-dental