YORK residents looking for a dentist could face problems because only a handful of practices are accepting new NHS patients.

Only seven practices in York and three in Selby out of the 45 in the Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) area are currently accepting new NHS patients, and many of those have no appointments available until mid-January.

The shortage forced one York couple to travel to Easingwold and to pay £75 for an emergency out-of-hours appointment after failing to find a dentist in the York area.

The Rawcliffe woman, who did not wish to be named, said her 63-year-old husband suffered an abscess and was in complete agony earlier this month.

She said she telephoned dozens of Dentists in the area, including her own, but was told none of them were taking on NHS patients at least until the new year. In desperation she tried her GP, who could not deal with dental problems, and North Yorkshire Dental Care Services in Monkgate.

Although that service provides emergency appointments there were none available until the next day.

The woman said: "My husband was really poorly, he was in complete agony. I rang dozens of dentists in York and Selby and none of them were taking on new NHS patients, they couldn't even give us an emergency appointment.

"We just felt that we had this awful problem and there was nowhere for us to turn. We eventually found a dentist in Easingwold and he gave us a prescription."

However, a spokesman for Selby and York PCT said: "The number of dental practices in the Selby and York Primary Care Trust area accepting NHS patients varies on a monthly basis. This information is updated and provided to NHS Direct.

"Registration can lapse if a patient does not visit his or her dentist within 15 months. As of November 2003, there are ten dental practices in the Selby and York PCT accepting all types of NHS patients. In addition, a further 15 are taking NHS registration of children."

Malton residents were told this week that emergency and unregistered patient dental treatment will be provided on the NHS in the town after Ryedale MP John Greenway lobbied health minister Rosie Winterton.

For information on NHS dentistry, contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

Dentists who accept NHS patients:

The following dentists are currently taking on new NHS patients, according to the Selby and York PCT:

YORK

The Dental Surgery

Simbalk Lane, Bishopthorpe

01904 703427

Mr PT Mikola

St Giles Way, Copmanthorpe

01904 706291

The Dental Surgery

Blossom Street, York 01904 654889

Mr TE Brown

Moorcroft Road, Woodthorpe, York

01904 706795

The Dental Surgery

The Mount, York

01904 623436

WS Inness Dental Surgery

The Village, Haxby

01904 763458

Mr M Hopkins and Associates

High Petergate, York

01904 623582

SELBY

The Dental Surgery

Kirkgate, Tadcaster

01937 832209

The Dental Surgery

New Lane, Selby

01757 703128

Cheetham's Dental Surgery

Gowthorpe, Selby

01757 705372

Updated: 10:49 Thursday, November 20, 2003