A city dentist has applied to take over adjoining flats to expand its clinics due to growing patient demand. 

Newmarket Road Dental Clinic submitted an application to transform residential areas to become part of the clinic. 

There would be no changes to the exterior of the building.

Currently there are five full-time and five part-time staff at the clinic. 

But if the plans are approved there would be a proposed 12 full-time and two part-time staff.

The Newmarket Road Dental Clinic has applied to expand its surgeryThe Newmarket Road Dental Clinic has applied to expand its surgery (Image: Google Maps)

The private clinic would also be adding four more regular parking spots on site, totalling 26, in addition to the two disabled spaces and five cycle spaces already there.

Its application comes as Norfolk continues to suffer a lack of dental practices with space for new patients.

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In April this year patient group Healthwatch Norfolk (HWN) conducted a survey of more than 50 dental surgeries in the county as people continue to struggle to access services.

The consultation date for the application will end on August 13The consultation date for the application will end on August 13 (Image: Google Maps)

The organisation found that of the 53 practices asked, none were accepting new NHS patients and some had waiting lists in the thousands.

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The survey found that no practices were accepting new patients of any age and an increase in the number of practices having to leave the NHS altogether.

The Newmarket clinic has been expanding since May last year, when it renovated one of the flats above the surgery to enable a third dentist to operate there.

Those wishing to comment on the new application have until August 13, with an internal recommendation date by the case officer of September 17.