A campaign to bring new NHS dental services to Billingham reached its finale today as Stockton North MP, Alex Cunningham, officially opened the first of two new NHS dentists in Billingham – Burgess and Hyder, which is based on East Avenue.
The official opening was the culmination of a 21 month-long campaign by Alex to get NHS provision back in Billingham following Queesnway Dental Service’s decision to stop taking NHS patients. 12,000 people were left without a NHS dentist as a result.
Alex, alongside local councillors and residents, led a successful campaign which saw NHS England put £1million into dental capacity and advertise for two new NHS dentists in Billingham – the first to open being Burgess and Hyder.
Alex said
I was delighted to officially open the Burgess and Hyder’s practice on East Avenue – the first of two new NHS dentists in Billingham – today.
When Queensway withdrew their NHS provision 12,000 people were left without access to an NHS dentist. This was a hard won campaign which resulted in NHS England accepting that there was a real need for NHS provision and agreeing to much needed investment into the local area.
Now we have the first of the dentists open with second soon to follow, and local people can access the NHS services they deserve.