YOUR report 'Hopes for NHS dental places' (July 15) was a little misleading.

Mr Dobson from Dobson & Associates indicates there could, perhaps, be places for 8,500 new patients if he can get the dentists.

Herein lies the problem. I doubt he will get even one dentist for NHS treatments.

My dentist, based in Bishopthorpe, has been trying for more than a year to recruit another dentist and has so far been unsuccessful.

Perhaps it is the better salaries or the new dcor, which I know from experience comes with private practice, or perhaps when working for the NHS it is even the lack of funds available.

Whatever it is, I believe Mr Dobson will have a rude awakening when he tries to enlist other NHS dentists.

However, I wish him luck and I wish my own dentist the same.

He is harassed and extremely busy and still trying to draft in help.

Mrs Sylvia Dunn,

Rutland Close,

Copmanthorpe,

York.

Updated: 09:35 Wednesday, July 20, 2005