A PLANNED new NHS dental surgery in Wellington will not be open until at least the autumn of this year.

Local MP Gideon Amos broke the news last week that Wellington’s ‘dental desert’ was about to end as NHS Somerset was working with a new practice which had identified suitable premises.

Now, health bosses have confirmed the practice was working to open toward the end of this year.

An NHS Somerset spokesman said: “We have undertaken scoping on behalf of a contractor to identify appropriate premises, including the recently vacated pharmacy site on Mantle Street and community sites owned by the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

“Premises we previously identified fell through due to identification of significant asbestos in the building, requiring immediate management and removal.

“A new premises has been identified, with purchase expected to take place by April.

“Renovation works are aiming to begin in April, with the contracted services being mobilised in the third quarter of 2025.”

NHS Somerset head of dental services Matt Mills said he could not yet confirm the location of the new practice.

But Mr Mills said: “We are pleased to say we are working with a provider to open a new dental practice in Wellington, which would offer both NHS and private dental care.

“We are currently working with the dental practice to secure a suitable property.

“A survey is being undertaken and the property would need to be renovated before the practice could open.

“While we cannot confirm a specific timeline at this stage, we are committed to keeping local people and partners updated as the project progresses.

“We understand that people in the Wellington area, and across Somerset, are seeking better access to NHS dentistry.

“This new initiative is part of NHS Somerset’s broader dental recovery plan, designed to improve access to NHS dental care.”