NHS dentistry began for me in a wooden hut known as the School Clinic in Piccadilly, York, during the 1930s. After I knocked out my four front teeth performing a back somersault for the gymnastic master at Nunthorpe Grammar School, it tidied up my mouth for me and I have been able to make good use of it ever since.

In these gold rush days of privatisation NHS dentistry has been stranded like a dying whale. This presents a massive challenge to our politicians, health trusts and those of us who want to see it survive.

Our local primary care trust offered guidance through the Evening Press to those who rely on the endangered NHS dental service (October 22). This is for any person who is not registered with a dentist but who requires urgent treatment.

There is no hint that it is not through any choice of theirs that this person is not registered with a dentist. They are likely to have been thrown out by one who prefers to limit their services to private patients only, and turned away by others.

Nor is concern expressed that they, and the thousands in the same position, would not be in this urgent and distressing situation if their rightful NHS dental care had not been refused them.

No recognition either that they will be increasingly vulnerable to these urgent and painful reoccurrences unless their rights are restored.

What we should be hearing from the Health Secretary, through our local MPs, and the person who is ultimately responsible for delivering a National Health dental service in our area is a strong statement that they are committed to correcting these awful discrepancies on a permanent basis.

NHS dental funding should be cut from private-only practices and redirected towards NHS-only quality practices.

George Appleby,

Leighton Croft,

Clifton,

York.

Updated: 11:06 Wednesday, October 27, 2004