Historic Berwick building to reopen as expanded NHS dental practice
The expansion of a dental practice and its move to a new home in Berwick town centre is set to improve access to NHS dentistry.
Tweedmouth Dental Clinic will officially open at 92 Marygate — formerly the Berwick Advertiser building — on Monday, June 8.
The move marks a major expansion for the clinic, which previously operated from a smaller two-surgery premises on Shielfield Terrace.
The new Marygate site has been developed into a modern four to five-surgery dental practice designed to support future growth and improved patient access.
As part of its plans to increase access to NHS dentistry and improve oral health across the region, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board has awarded the clinic with a new contract through which it can see more NHS patients for both routine and urgent dental care.
Alongside NHS dentistry, the practice will also provide a full range of dental services including routine private dentistry, cosmetic dental treatments, dental implants, orthodontic and tooth straightening services.
The restoration of the former Berwick Advertiser building has also been welcomed as an important investment in the town centre, with efforts made to carefully preserve the character and history of the landmark Marygate property while adapting it for modern healthcare use.
Dr Shabin Chohan said: “We are pleased to be able to bring this prominent building back into use and also to try to help the people in Berwick. There is a shortage of NHS dentistry nationally but there has been great efforts made to try to ensure that there is greater NHS dental service availability in this area.
“I need to thank the many parties involved; the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board; the local councillors of Berwick and the local MP, David Smith. All have worked diligently with us to get this over line. Also thanks to the persons at Building Control and Conservation at Northumberland Council, who have worked closely with us over many years.
“It was very much a collective effort and the people of Berwick will benefit. It should allow us to give out more NHS dental appointments to help patients who are in pain.
“We have expanded our dental team and over time we hope to grow fully into the building. I am very lucky to have a great dental team; dentists, nurses, receptionists and a dental therapist that I work with and I am really pleased that they will be working in a great building in a great location on Marygate.
“We will be taking new patients on slowly so not to overload the service but should have greater NHS urgent access availability for patients in pain."
The new practice is expected to provide improved local access to NHS routine and urgent dental appointments while also expanding specialist private dental services available within Berwick itself.