A dentist hopes to welcome new NHS patients and staff from India in a bid to combat a “severe lack” of government-funded surgeries.

Chopra & Associates Dental Surgeries, Sutton House, London Road, Sittingbourne, has submitted plans to allow it to see “100 to 200” new patients a month.

The proposals have been welcomed by MP Gordon Henderson (Con), who is “fully supportive” as stated in a letter to Swale council’s planning committee.

He wrote: “It will be a great benefit to my constituents because of the ongoing lack of NHS dentists in our area.

“I believe this innovative proposal will bring a number of benefits to the local area.”

The plans include the redevelopment of the dentist building as well as a three-story extension to its left side.

This would see the number of surgery rooms double from four to eight and the addition of six flats.

A new dental training facility would replace an outdated detached modular structure, which sits at the rear of the main three-storey Edwardian building, which is set to be demolished.

The new site would have a lecture theatre office space and a restroom for staff. Other practices in the area could also use the training building.

The scheme also includes hiring staff from India after a more than three-year search which has seen “no suitable candidates” come forward.

Alpha Design Studio, which is acting on behalf of applicant Peter Chopra, says this is a nationwide issue and points to a “severe lack” of NHS dental provision in Swale.

It says no practices are taking on new dental patients under government-funded healthcare and those trying to are having issues hiring NHS dentists.

It said: “There are just not enough qualified dentists and dental nurses available and any dental staff who may well be available, are unfortunately taking jobs in the private sector and not the NHS.”

The surgery would provide subsidised housing and thanks to the new facility would be able to train people up to UK standards and regulations.

In all, the extensions would see 10 new staff being employed, taking the workforce to 25.

The firm also says that by having more professionals on site there is the possibility of developing an out-of-hour dental service which will help a greater number of patients be seen.

Councillors have previously linked the increasing pressure on public services, including healthcare, to housebuilding in the borough.

Population growth in Swale has outstripped the national average, growing by 11.7% between 2011 and 2021 compared to the national average of 6.6%. A total of 151,700 now live in the borough.

In August hundreds of people spent hours queuing overnight outside a dental practice in Faversham after bosses announced it would be opening up NHS slots.

It came a month before a damning report found people across the UK have been forced to pull out their teeth because they cannot get appointments.

A decision on the proposal is expected by this coming Tuesday.