PEOPLE in need of urgent dental treatment will no longer be able access out of hours care at Kidderminster Health Centre.

Under a new system for urgent out of hours dental care in the West Midlands, the Kidderminster clinic will cease operation from April 1 while a new service is opened in Redditch. There will also be clinics in Worcester, Dudley, Wolverhampton and Coventry.

Out of hours clinics at Evesham Dental Access Centre and the Worcester Dental Access Centre in Lowesmoor will also be cut.

NHS England and NHS Improvement say locations were selected in large population centres and at the heart of transport networks to offer less than 60 minute access to everyone in the West Midlands.

Nuala Woodman, of NHS England and NHS Improvement, said: “There is nothing worse than having a dental problem at the weekend or Bank Holiday when everything is closed.

"Our new system will be able to advise on pain relief or to put people in touch with their closest out of hours dental surgery for urgent treatment.

"Previously, out of hours dental services had no appointment system and were not always staffed meaning confusion and disappointment for people who wished to access the service.

"Our engagement and consultation has shown that people welcome the straightforwardness of this system as well as the locations of the surgeries.”

As part of the new system, anyone with a dental emergency will be asked to call 111 or search NHS 111 online. They will then be referred to their nearest clinic.

NHS England and NHS Improvement say the new system has been developed after public engagement and consultation with dental patients, dentists, healthcare workers, carers and public health professionals.

The changes are being advertised through posters and messages to GP surgeries, dental practices, hospital A&Es and outpatient departments.

Daytime appointments and community dentistry will not be affected.