QUEUES to get an NHS dentist in York and Selby are gradually shortening, new figures reveal.

Latest figures released by North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) show that the number of people who are on the area's NHS dental waiting list has dropped by hundreds since January.

At the beginning of the year, there were just over 3,000 people who were waiting to be assigned a dentist in the area.

But figures dating from mid-April show that number has now fallen, and there are currently 2,688 on the list.

Last year, dental services across the country went through a major shake-up when dentist contracts devolved from the control of the Government to PCTs.

Previously, dentists had been paid directly by the Department of Health for each bit of work they did - whether that was cleaning, fillings or tooth extraction.

But the new PCT contracts specify how many patients dentists have to treat and how many "units of dental activity" they undertake.

It has meant dentists get a fixed income rather than piecemeal payments.

The new contracts sparked a national outcry from dentists, many of whom went private rather than sign up to them, saying they would not be given enough cash for the work they did and patients would suffer. This left thousands of people in York and Selby suddenly without an NHS practice.

North Yorkshire and York PCT argued that the new system meant better security for patients, because it meant it controlled the purse strings when a dentist left the NHS and could buy in new services.

Since last year, thousands of new dental places have been provided.

This financial year, dental practices did not have to re-sign their contracts.

Jason Atkinson, an associate dentist from WS Inness practice in Haxby, York, said his dental contract with the PCT was still working out well.

He said: "From my point of view the contract is going fine. The contract is up for renewal in another two years - that's when it will be renegotiated."

This spring, The Press revealed further problems when it emerged some practices were running out of money before the financial year ended.


How to get on list

YOU can get on to the York and Selby NHS dental waiting list by phoning 01904 724107.

There are 25 general dental NHS practices in York and Selby.

Two of the practices offer general dental services and orthodontics - more complex dental procedures - and seven more offer only orthodontics.