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Arshid is easing NHS dental crisis

Stuart Greer
5/ 7/2006

A CHADDERTON dentist has scored a double victory that will make big inroads into alleviating the borough's NHS dental crisis.

Arshid Hussain, who runs a practice in Coalshaw Green Road, has permission to transform two Victorian houses into new surgeries in Oldham Road, Springhead, and Manchester Road, Werneth.

This will increase the number of new NHS dentists in Oldham to six from this autumn - just one short of Oldham Primary Care Trust's (PCT's) bid for seven dentists to plug the gap in NHS provision in the borough.

However, Mr Hussain's victory has not come without a fight, after he had to overturn a council decision to refuse planning permission on the Werneth surgery, while also battling disapproving neighbours at Springhead.

Gail Richards, PCT chief executive, said: "We're very pleased that planning permission has been given for both practices. This is one small step in a ten-year plan to make sure there is NHS dental care across Oldham. We will continue to work hard to improve access in the borough."

Oldham PCT has funding to provide seven dentists with the capacity to see 7,500 patients.

Mr Hussain's new surgery in Springhead will treat 3,500 NHS patients from late summer with the introduction of three new part-time dentists, while his move from Chadderton to Werneth will provide another part-time dentist serving 1,000 people.

The new Moorside Medical Centre, which opened in March, will eventually be staffed by two part-time dentists and treat 2,000 patients, while the PCT is in negotiations with another dentist for Failsworth for the autumn.

A crisis hit Oldham earlier this year when Saddleworth Dental Clinic opted out of NHS services leaving 5,000 patients without a dentist.

In the last two years Mr Hussain has battled with planners to bring two new surgeries to the borough.

His plans to convert 80 Manchester Road were thwarted last August by Oldham Council, which felt the lack of parking would make it unsafe for visitors on a busy highway. Mr Hussain appealed against the decision and in June a planning inspector overturned the council decision and approved the surgery.

And last Wednesday Mr Hussain succeeded in convincing Oldham councillors - who were again concerned over parking - to allow him to convert 74 Oldham Road into a surgery.

• DENTAL places will be open to all borough residents and will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. The PCT is encouraging anyone with queries about dental provision to call 0161 6226496.