Cameron urges GP surgeries to follow Exeter Dental Centre’s lead and open 7 days a week

A private dental centre in Exeter has welcomed the news that David Cameron is looking to offer more patients the chance to visit a GP in the evening or at weekends by piloting a scheme in nine areas of England, where surgeries will be able to bid for funding to open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week.

Based on the success of the first wave, other groups will be encouraged and enabled to open their doors at the evenings and weekends.

Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said: "We live in a 24/7 society, and we need GPs to find new ways of working so they can offer appointments at times that suit hard-working people.

In July, The Exeter Dental Centre became the first dental practice in the area to offer patients the opportunity to book appointments 7 days a week and by doing so meet a local demand for opening hours.

Principal dentist and practice owner, Michael Hesketh, said: “Offering fully staffed surgeries seven days offers a convenient option for those needing to see a dentist during the evenings or weekends.

“We understand that it can be difficult with busy lives, families and work commitments to attend dental appointments, so we took the decision to offer our patients a fully flexible service, allowing them to choose a time that is convenient for them.

“We are aiming to take the strain off our Accident and Emergency colleagues by caring for patients with dental pain outside of the hospital environment.  We are a service industry where the patient must come first and be cared for 7 days a week in the 21st Century.”

Formerly the Castle Square Dental Practice, Mr Hesketh took over the practice in July last year, following the retirement of the previous owners, and the centre has undergone an extensive refurbishment. As well as an updated décor, patients can now benefit from a range of general and cosmetic dentistry and a fully automated booking system, giving flexibility to book appointments online.

Following patient feedback and research it became clear to staff at the centre that there was a demand for dental practices to be open for treatment at weekends. Primarily, this stemmed from people looking to seek help with emergency dental issues, but they’ve also seen a demand for people looking to make appointments outside of work hours.

Mr Hesketh continued: “We are proud to be taking the lead in 7-day week healthcare in the South West and are committed to looking after our patients in line with the Prime Minister’s aspirations.”

For full opening times and a list of procedures offered, please visit  www.exeterdentalcentre.co.uk or call the Reception Team on 01392 272350.