House could become NHS dental surgery

Plans have been tabled to transform a house near Stourbridge into a much needed NHS dental surgery.

Dr Jonathan Swinscoe and Dr Amy Chandler are hoping planning chiefs at Dudley Council will give their proposals to take over a retired couple's house in Bridgnorth Road, Wollaston, the green light.

The dentists, who currently work at Albert Dental Practice in Telford, have applied for permission to convert and extend the two-storey building into a surgery with four different examination rooms, reception, waiting room and upstairs office. Dudley Primary Care Trust (PCT) is to pair up with the two dentists to provide NHS treatment for patients.

But the plans are still at an early stage.

In a statement supporting the application the dentists lament the lack of National Health dentists in the area. The report states: "The local neighbourhood of Wollaston, having its own unique social character, has for many years not had the benefit of many National Health dentists. Dudley PCT has aligned itself with Dr Swinscoe and Dr Chandler to bring the much needed service to Wollaston."

The dentists say they looked at several other sites before settling on the Bridgnorth Road house, including the doctors' surgery next door. But their plan to move to the closure-threatened Wollaston Surgery was scuppered when the doctors decided to stay and serve the area in an eleventh hour turnaround. The report adds: "Unfortunately for the dentists the doctors revised their decision and have now decided to retain the facility to serve the Wollaston area.

"Eventually they found out the owners were looking to sell their property and retire." A single storey extension would also be built at the back of the surgery.

Ten parking spaces would also be provided, including a disabled space, plus one motorcycle space and two cycle spaces.