"Dental Access Centre will make a real difference"

12.00.00am GMT Thu 30th Nov 2006

Councillor Mohammad Sharif, Paul Rowen MP and dignataries.

Rochdale Paul Rowen MP, Masroor Junejo, Consul General of Pakistan, based in Manchester, Councillor Mohammad Sharif and Health Bosses officially opened the brand new PCT Dental Service at Castlemere Community Centre in Rochdale. The ceremony was attended by people from across the community.

Paul Rowen MP said, "This is an excellent initiative that is desperately needed in Rochdale. I was hugely impressed by this facility that I believe will make a real difference. I hope that as many people as possible are treated at Castlemere Community Centre it should certainly take the pressure off the Dental Access Centre. Since being elected last year, one of my key campaigns has been the lack of access to NHS Dentistry in Rochdale so seeing extra provision me great pleasure. This is something we would like to see more of in Rochdale. Although, people can't register at this centre it is somewhere that will open up NHS Dentistry in the Borough."

Local Councillor Mohammad Sharif said, "The lack of NHS Dentists in the Borough has been an ongoing concern, and the Dental Access Centre has been a great help. The problem with that was it was under huge pressure, the fact that this will help alleviate these problems is a boost and means that everyone in Rochdale will benefit."