A MAJOR £6m refurbishment of Liverpool’s dental hospital has been completed – making it one of the best in the country.

An extra 125 student dentist places have been created as a result, a step health chiefs hope will improve access to NHS treatment in the North West.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham came to officially open the hospital yesterday, and said the dental facilities were among the best in Britain.

The hospital – which is on the Royal Liverpool site and is part of the same health trust – has had two extensions. It now provides improved minor oral surgery with six new surgery suites, five purpose-built “sedation” areas and improved facilities for patients with special needs. There are also three floors of research and laboratory facilities, additional seminar rooms and a refurbished lecture theatre.

Four hundred students, mostly from the University of Liverpool, will now be trained at one time, compared to 275 before the refurbishment.

Mr Burnham said: “It is brilliant, the facilities are fantastic. The great thing is the fact the hospital offers services to the public, like emergency care, but also plays such a huge part in training our dentists of the future.

“The improvements to the building will help those with disabilities in particular, and the research facilities are as good as anywhere else in the country, it is really up there.”

The visit was also an opportunity for hospital chiefs to show the Secretary of State why they have put forward plans for a new Royal Liverpool Hospital.

The business case is currently with the Department of Health, where officers will make a final decision on the £369m proposals.

Judith Greensmith, chair of the hospital trust, added: “We were delighted to welcome the Secretary of State. “With a major investment, the hospital now boasts some of the best dental facilities in the country.”