Steve broke away from spending a few days with Susie and the family to open the newly-positioned NHS dentist at 15 Bridge Street on Friday August 6.
The practice, which opens its doors on Monday August 9, has grown out of two sites on St James Terrace and in the Friarsgate Medical Centre, and the expansion will allow both the recruitment of another dentist and an increase in the patient base as new NHS customers can be accepted.
Speaking after the event, Steve said: “In almost every survey we do among local residents, access to local NHS dentistry comes out near the top of peoples’ concerns so I know this new surgery is meeting a great demand.
“I pay credit to the Primary Care Trust for recognising this and helping provide this excellent new service to the people of Winchester. I wish the whole team at the new Chesil Dental Surgery every success for the future in their new home.
“More generally, I am really supportive of the noises coming from the new Government in dentistry. We will ensure dentists trained by the NHS, work in the NHS for a set period of time which is surely right and we will re-introduce dental checks to local schools which should have never gone in the first place."
Pictured; Steve joins dentist Alan Bickley at the grand opening.