SEVENTEEN-THOUSAND more York people found an NHS dentist in 2005 than the previous year, the city's MP has been told by a top Government minister.

A total of 146,405 patients were registered with NHS dental practitioners in the York and Selby area in 2005 compared with 129,247 in 2004.

York MP Hugh Bayley was given the figures after questioning Rosie Winterton, the Secretary of State for Health.

Mr Bayley said the increase was the result of a "rescue strategy" he had requested from Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) and the Strategic Health Authority.

He said: "When the problem emerged in 2004 I, asked the Strategic Health Authority and the PCT to prepare a rescue strategy. I am glad to see that it has borne fruit".

The figures handed to Mr Bayley follow an Evening Press report, last week, which revealed a quarter of the region's dentists had quit the NHS to go private.

Eleven of the area's 45 dental practices had refused to sign up to controversial new dental contracts, which come into force on April 1 - affecting 11,000 patients.

The PCT believes other practices will sign up, but we reported that 16,500 people had either lost a dentist or were in serious danger of doing so.

Mr Bayley also revealed that, despite present difficulties, the PCT area was performing better than the national average for registered patients.

Last year, 72 per cent of children in the Selby and York area were registered with a dentist, compared with 62 per cent nationally.

For adults, 48 per cent were registered in Selby and York, as opposed to 44 per cent nationally.

Mr Bayley also said dentistry had benefited from an extra £500,000 in funding in 2004 to 2005. "I am going to continue the campaign," he said.

"We now have more dentists and more patients registered with dentists, but we still have a way to go until we get everyone registered."

Meanwhile, NHS Direct has stepped in to reassure patients it will continue to provide general advice on dental queries despite the doubts surrounding new contracts.

For help, log on to www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or phone 0845 46 47.

Updated: 11:41 Monday, March 27, 2006