Link has set up new dental practice in South Coatbridge, with support from Communities Scotland’s Wider Role programme. Linkwide identified the need, and financed the £340,000 project, to support its tenants and others in the area.
The Kirkshaws Community Dental Practice is located within the area covered by the former South Coatbridge Social Inclusion Partnership. The overall aim of the project is to improve oral health locally. Figures show that dental health in Lanarkshire is amongst the poorest in the UK with only 58% of children under 17 registered with an NHS dentist (compared to 64% nationally) and only 45% of adults (compared to 51% nationally).
Communities Scotland's Wider Role funding went towards the first stage of this partnership project which involved construction of a purpose-built centre to accommodate the community dental practice. Phase 2, the delivery of the service, is funded by NHS Lanarkshire. The project complements Link Group's development of affordable housing in the area.
Brenda Higgins, director of Linkwide, a subsidiary of Link Group, said: "The local community derives considerable benefit from the dental practice. The project makes a vital contribution to dental health in the area and has already shown to be in great demand by local people."
Communities Scotland's area director for south west Scotland, Roger Popplewell, said: "This project is now operational and is exceeding its target for the number of people registering for treatment. It is a very good example of the work which Scotland's housing associations do, with our support, to improve services for their tenants beyond simply building homes and being a landlord."
Page last updated on Wednesday, 23 July 2008
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