A NEW 1,500 patient NHS dental surgery is to open in Bolton, one of a only handful of new practices in the country.

But new patients will not be seen until early next year at the earliest - and local health bosses admit there is still a major problem in recruiting local NHS dentists.

The surgery, on Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge, plans to take on around 1,500 NHS patients. It is one of just a handful of new independent NHS dentist surgeries in the country.

The news will be welcomed by people in Bolton, many of whom have been trying for months in vain to register with an NHS dentist.

But those wanting to register with the new surgery will have to wait.

Patients will not be officially registered at the surgery until they have had a check-up - and that is likely to be next year.

A receptionist will start taking names at the surgery, over the telephone, from Monday September 27. Patients will then be contacted early next year and be allocated times for check-ups before they are taken on.

The dentist, Mark Cohen, who has a practice in Bury, is currently recruiting a full-time dentist to work in the Bolton surgery, which he will manage.

Mr Cohen said: "There will not be a full-time dentist at the surgery until New Year at the earliest. I am currently speaking to dentists about the job but they would have to give three months notice where they work now anyway.

"We have also decided that, before registering any patient, they will have to have a check-up. It's better to develop a relationship with the person before you register them and, this way, people won't just turn up when they have toothache."

He added people living near to the surgery would stand a better chance of being registered.

Mr Cohen will work two half-days a week at the surgery until a new dentist is in place.

He is opening the practice in partnership with Steve Bradshaw, who will occupy the upper floor of the surgery for his dental laboratory work.

The surgery was owned and run by dentists Mr and Mrs Doyle for 30 years before Mr Doyle, of Bromley Cross, died last year.

The new surgery is welcome relief for Edith Woods, of Oldhams Terrace, Astley Bridge.

Mrs Woods, aged 56, has telephoned every dentist in Bolton to try and register her 11-year-old foster child Alex but with little success.

She said: "The only dentist who would take him on is in Farnworth and it's difficult to go over there, especially if you have no transport."

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "We are delighted that a dentist has chosen to open up an NHS practice in Bolton.

"The Department of Health has no say whether a dentist leaves or stays in the NHS. We know there's a shortage of dentists but, at the moment, we can't control it."

Mr Cohen, who runs Cohen's dental surgery in Bury, said the interest expressed over his Bolton surgery has surprised him.

He said: "Most practices in Bury are still taking on NHS patients and it's not a big issue. To be honest, I was not aware of the situation in Bolton."

A Bolton Primary Care Trust spokesman said: "We welcome this new dental practice to Bolton, and wish the staff there every success.

"Meanwhile we are currently working with local dentists on plans to expand access to NHS dental care across the borough, recognising that this is an issue which is a high priority for local people."

There are currently around 80 dentists in Bolton after a fall of 17 per cent in the numbers in the town over the last decade.

Bolton children are among the worst in the country for tooth decay. Latest figures show 59 per cent of Bolton five-year-olds are affected by tooth decay compared to the national average of 39 per cent.

Anyone wanting to register their interest at the new surgery should telephone 01204 302011 from Monday September 27.