THOUSANDS of new places have been created at NHS dentists in York to try and ease the shortage in the city.

The city's MP, Hugh Bayley, met dentists at RS Dobson & Associates Dental Practice, in Lawrence Street, which has now doubled in size with the help of a grant from Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT).

In a letter to Mr Bayley, Health Minister Rosie Winterton confirmed she has now approved new Personal Dental Services (PDS) contracts for 15 practices in the area.

The new contracts pay dentists to advise patients on their oral health - which means fewer fillings and other treatments - so they are able to see more patients. The 15 new contracts provided 9,490 extra places for patients in York and Selby by September, according to the letter.

The primary care trust confirmed this figure has risen to 12,316, and the extra NHS dental patients are already registered and being seen.

Under the PDS contracts, dentists agree a timetable with the PCT for taking on additional patients. The increase in patients in York and Selby will continue to rise until 33,284 extra places in NHS practices are available.

Some of the places come as a result of the health promotion

benefits of the contract, but others result from practices taking on more dentists or support staff.

Mr Bayley congratulated York and Selby's NHS dentists for taking an extra 12,316 additional patients to ease the shortage, which developed last year when three local dental practices stopped treating NHS patients.

When the closures happened, Mr Bayley met the strategic health authority and the PCT to press them to draw up a recovery plan.

He persuaded Ms Winterton to come to York to see the problems on the ground and visit RS Dobson & Associates. The practice has now employed two new dentists and is waiting for building work to be completed on its waiting room extension and access for disabled people.

Mr Bayley said: "York dentists have responded brilliantly to the challenge of taking on extra patients. The 12,316 extra patients is a tremendous improvement, but more needs to be done. There are still people in York who can't find a dentist.

"I will continue to work with the PCT to make sure we get the 33,000 extra dental places we have been promised, and I will keep lobbying the Minister to get more dental practices signed up to the new way of working, and taking on extra patients too.

"Early this year I asked the PCT to set up a central waiting list for patients who can't find a dentist, and they have done so."

If anyone wants to get on the list, they can phone the PCT on 01904 724107.

Updated: 09:03 Tuesday, November 22, 2005