FUNDING BOOST FOR NHS DENTISTRY

NHS dental practices and their patients will benefit from a programme of capital investment of £100 million over 2 years announced this week by health minister Rosie Winterton, designed to improve and modernise dental practices across the country.

The capital investment, announced in her speech this week to the British Dental Association conference, will:

support dentists in modernising premises and equipment to improve services for patients,

allow PCTs to give greater financial support to help dentists establish practices or to upgrade existing
ones.

The £100 million of capital investment will be made available to the NHS, through SHAs, over the next 2 years to take forward infrastructure improvements for NHS primary dental care services.  This builds on the £80 million capital investment already going
towards modernising dental education establishments and supporting the 25% expansion in dental training places.

Health minister Rosie Winterton said of the capital funding boost to NHS dental services:- "I have visited many dental practices over the last 3 years, some of which would clearly benefit from modernising their premises or upgrading their equipment. These dentists are providing services of a high quality but working in environments which could be improved with greater capital investment. I want this money to help upgrade these premises not only to provide a better working environment for dentists, but also to improve services for patients.  This announcement is a clear sign of the Government's continuing commitment to improving NHS dental services. We have recently introduced the biggest reforms to NHS dentistry since it began, which are allowing Primary Care Trusts to develop dental services to reflect local needs. This £100 million capital investment programme will further support these important reforms."

A world of learning in Liverpool

ADULT Learners Week kicks off in Liverpool this Saturday with a series of demonstrations to show it is never too old to learn.  The week-long celebration is being launched at World Museum Liverpool on William Brown Street on May 20 from 10am until 4pm. There will be performances of Chinese and jazz music, Tai Chi demonstrations, a craft class, glass painting and people can find out more about their family history.

And as part of Adult Learners Week, Liverpool's libraries have linked up with Age Concern to hold free computer taster sessions through the week. The taster sessions take place on the following days:

Monday May 22: Fazakerley Library on Formosa Drive from 2-4pm

Tuesday May 23: Wavertree Library on Picton Road from 2-4pm

Wednesday May 24: Breck Road Library on Breck Road from 2-4pm

Thursday May 25: Garston Library on Powden Road from 2-4pm

On Friday May 26, a special computer taster session will be held at Central Library on William Brown Street for blind and partially sighted people using the latest magnification and speech software. It is being run by Henshaws Society for Blind People.

Councillor Dave Antrobus, executive member for supported living, said:- "It is never too old to learn a new skill and all sorts of courses are available through the Adult Learning Service.  This is a great chance for people to find out more about the courses that are on offer in Liverpool and get involved."

More details on the courses being held can be found at learninliverpool or by calling 0151 233 1600.