NHS dental treatment in Skipton is in crisis with residents finding it increasingly difficult to find a dentist ready to treat them.

Three Skipton practices have opted to treat private cases only, leaving just two in the town which are prepared to take on and treat new patients under the NHS.

This crisis has prompted the county's health chiefs to meet next Tuesday to look at what can be done about the growing problem.

Stuart Harris, a spokesman for North Yorkshire Health Authority said it was becoming "increasingly difficult" to register with an NHS dentist in the town.

He said there were NHS dental practitioners available in the Skipton area, but the authority had received numerous phone calls from residents unable to get treatment.

He said: "People may have to travel to Settle and Gargrave where the dentists are still accepting NHS patients. I know that is not an ideal situation."

John Godward, chief officer of the Community Health Council, said he had also received several letters about the growing problem in Skipton, but added that this was a situation where very little could be done.

John Muirhead, in Otley Street; Belle Vue Dental Practice, in Belle Vue Terrace, Broughton Road; and Andrew J Bates dentist, in Gargrave Road, are all now private practices.

Dentist Martin Adamson, of the Belle Vue Practice, said in a letter to patients: "For the last ten years I have worked hard to provide a high standard of care and treatment under the NHS despite the increasing restrictions of NHS regulations and funding. I now feel that in order to continue to deliver the quality of care deserved by my patients, I must finally withdraw from NHS treatment for adults."

He added: "Individual appointments for private care will cost more than NHS care, but I believe they will represent better value for money with the emphasis being on long term, lasting solutions."

Most of the dentists spoken to by the T&A, both private and NHS, laid the blame for the problem ultimately with measures undertaken by the Conservative Government in October 1990, which reduced fees payable by the NHS to dentists and there have been no increases since.

The present Government has pledged a £19 million cash injection into the service, but the British Dental Association has said this is not enough to stop the exodus.

For those concerned about the current situation Stuart Harris added that anyone experiencing problems registering with dentists for NHS treatment in Skipton should ring Cheryl Room on 01904 825190.

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