A plan to have a specialist dental surgeon for the Spalding area is still not in place over a year since it was announced.
The measure to have a Intermediate Minor Oral Surgery (IMOS) in the town was announced in February 2025 as part of the measures announced by the NHS to target ‘dental deserts’.
South Holland has been identified as one such area that lacks oral healthcare facilities.
The IMOS would see a professional stationed in the town and able to carry out ‘complex dental extractions’ on a referral basis.
The aim would be so those in the district wouldn’t have to travel so far for such treatments and lessen waiting list times.
Spalding, Lincoln and Skegness were the three areas where the IMOS were meant to be being set up and installed by summer 2025.
But heading into spring 2026 the IMOS still hasn’t been set up.
A spokesman for the NHS said that it was ‘still in the procurement stage’.
When announced it was stated the specialist surgeon would be contracted for seven years with the option of extending for a further three years.
Previously a report stated: “The service provides specialist treatment e.g. complex dental extractions by a clinician with enhanced skills and experience that is either on the oral surgery specialist list or accredited in line with national guidance.
“Treatment may be provided under local anaesthetic and the clinician may use quality behavioural management techniques or provide treatment under conscious sedation where appropriate for minor oral surgery procedures.”
