AN NHS dental surgery is reopening in an area of the city where some residents have not had a check-up in two years.

St John’s Dental Practice, on Malvern Road, Worcester, will start treating patients on September 3.

The site was the only NHS dental surgery in St John's when it closed in 2016.

Diane Allen, practice manager at St John’s Dental Practice, said: “It’s very exciting. Obviously it was needed in the area.

“We know two years ago it closed down and a lot of people in the area were upset.

“We have heard people haven’t been to the dentist since the last one closed.”

There will be three dentists at the surgery, including the owner Harkamel Gill, who also has surgeries in Wolverhampton and Bilston.

City councillor Richard Udall, who represents St John’s, said: “I’ve been campaigning for this since the last dentists’ practice closed. It was the biggest single complaint I had when it closed.

“There were no NHS dentists left in St John’s. People were going without dental care as they struggled to get across the city to dental appointments, with public transport costs.

“This is a successful day. A lot of St John’s people have been suffering with pain. They can now go locally to an NHS dentist and receive quality treatment.”

Cllr Udall said some locals had been to hospital with toothache and infections.

People can now book appointments at the surgery either over the phone or in person.

The practice is open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.

Salma Ali, programme director for NHS England in the West Midlands, said: “St John’s Dental Practice closed in May 2016 after the contractor opted not to extend its contract with NHS England.

“NHS England awarded a new contract through a competitive procurement process undertaken in 2017 and the new contractor has now secured premises at the same location as the original practice.

“There are a number of practices offering NHS dental services within a two mile radius of this location.

“NHS England works closely with the Worcestershire County Council and Public Health England to continually refresh our needs assessment to ensure that there is sufficient dental provision for the local population.

“NHS England is committed to making sure that dental services are efficient, effective, accessible and make the best use of NHS resources.”