A NEW NHS dental practice could be located in the south Wye area of Hereford by the Autumn.

The chosen site is a Grade II-listed building known as Poole Farm House in Belmont Road, close to the Belmont roundabout.

The house is owned by Herefordshire Council and has been vacant for some time. It is understood negotiations are taking place over its sale.

Herefordshire Primary Care Trust, anxious to increase NHS dental care in the county, has commissioned Oasis Health Care to provide a new dental surgery with five dental practitioners in the area.

Oasis Health, a national company, has applied to Herefordshire Council for change of use of Poole Farm House to five surgeries, coupled with administration and waiting areas.

Ken MacGladrie, a primary care manager with the PCT, said the health service would commission the work which would be prominently NHS.

Oasis Health would run the practice and recruit dentists in the same way as other dental practices.

Mr MacGladrie said it was hoped several thousands of NHS patients would benefit in the next two years from the service if plans came to fruition.

Meanwhile, an NHS dental access centre in Hereford is on the move.

The centre, run by Herefordshire PCT, is currently based at the back of the health centre in Ross Road.

The PCT has confirmed that the centre is soon to transfer to new surgeries linked to the community centre at the Asda store off the Belmont roundabout.