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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| £17m plan for new NHS dentists | £17m plan for new NHS dentists |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Almost 40 new NHS dentists are to be appointed to tackle the chronic shortage in Northern Ireland. | Almost 40 new NHS dentists are to be appointed to tackle the chronic shortage in Northern Ireland. |
| Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said he had awarded a £17m contract for the provision of additional dentists "where they were most needed". | Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said he had awarded a £17m contract for the provision of additional dentists "where they were most needed". |
| The first dentists will be appointed to areas of greatest need and should be in post by the end of the year. | The first dentists will be appointed to areas of greatest need and should be in post by the end of the year. |
| Earlier this year the BBC reported long queues outside a dental surgery in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh. | Earlier this year the BBC reported long queues outside a dental surgery in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh. |
| Mr McGimpsey said he hoped the new dentists would "greatly ease current access problems". | Mr McGimpsey said he hoped the new dentists would "greatly ease current access problems". |
| "My officials will continue to monitor the situation and we shall take further action as is necessary to ensure that the general public have access to a health service dentist," he said. | "My officials will continue to monitor the situation and we shall take further action as is necessary to ensure that the general public have access to a health service dentist," he said. |
| Oasis Dental Care has been awarded the contract to provide the dentists. | Oasis Dental Care has been awarded the contract to provide the dentists. |
| It owns and operates 170 dental practices throughout England and Wales, providing a combination of NHS and private dental care. | It owns and operates 170 dental practices throughout England and Wales, providing a combination of NHS and private dental care. |
| I know that access to health service dentistry has been a matter of concern for many people across Northern Ireland Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey | I know that access to health service dentistry has been a matter of concern for many people across Northern Ireland Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey |
| The former Western board area will get 16 new dentists - in Enniskillen, Omagh, Strabane and Londonderry. | The former Western board area will get 16 new dentists - in Enniskillen, Omagh, Strabane and Londonderry. |
| In the former Northern board area eight dentists have been designated for Carrickfergus, Newtownabbey and Cookstown. | In the former Northern board area eight dentists have been designated for Carrickfergus, Newtownabbey and Cookstown. |
| Bangor/Donaghadee, Holywood, Dundonald/Castlereagh, Lisburn/Dunmurry and Carryduff - in the former Eastern board area -will get 10 dentists. | Bangor/Donaghadee, Holywood, Dundonald/Castlereagh, Lisburn/Dunmurry and Carryduff - in the former Eastern board area -will get 10 dentists. |
| The former Southern board areas of Banbridge, Dungannon and Newry will each receive funding for two new dentists. | The former Southern board areas of Banbridge, Dungannon and Newry will each receive funding for two new dentists. |
| The first of the dentists should start work by the end of this year, probably in Fermanagh, and the others will begin work within 12 months. | The first of the dentists should start work by the end of this year, probably in Fermanagh, and the others will begin work within 12 months. |
| The intention is that the dentists will not join existing practices but will instead open new premises. | The intention is that the dentists will not join existing practices but will instead open new premises. |
| Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey said: "I know that access to health service dentistry has been a matter of concern for many people across Northern Ireland. | Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey said: "I know that access to health service dentistry has been a matter of concern for many people across Northern Ireland. |
| "I am pleased that today I can announce a new contract that will provide access for an additional 57,000 health service patients. | "I am pleased that today I can announce a new contract that will provide access for an additional 57,000 health service patients. |
| "Oasis Dental Care has extensive expertise and experience in providing dental services to health Trusts across the United Kingdom and the standards they have set are impressive." | "Oasis Dental Care has extensive expertise and experience in providing dental services to health Trusts across the United Kingdom and the standards they have set are impressive." |
| Officials at the Department of Health are continuing negotiations with the British Dental Association on a new contract for existing health service dentists in Northern Ireland. | |
| Negotiations have been ongoing since November 2006 and it is hoped that the new contract will be piloted later this year. |