In 2004 Scarborough was highlighted in the Evening News – and followed up by the national media – as having a shortage of NHS dentists and hundreds of people were filmed as they queued to be put on the list of an NHS dentist in the town.

Now, a survey of primary care trusts for the Patients Association has found widespread problems following the introduction of a new dental contract in 2006.

But a spokesman for North Yorkshire and York PCT said the current situation in Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale was “very positive” and so far this year 2,189 patients had been allocated an NHS dentist.

She added: “The number of people who have expressed an interest in joining the NHS dental register in the Scarborough, Whitby, Ryedale locality as of February 27 2008 is 1,890.

“However, the number of patients who have already been allocated an NHS dentist so far this year far exceeds this figure.”

There are currently 11 NHS dental practices in Scarborough and a further two NHS dental practices in Filey, which compares with a total of 32 before the introduction of the new contract in 2006.

The Patients Assoc-iation’s report, called The New Dental Contract – Full of Holes and Causing Pain?, found problems with funding, prevention work and patient experiences.

It said that despite regulations requiring information to be available, patients remain confused about the new contract, the charges they are expected to pay and how to access regular – as opposed to emergency – care.

The report also found that complaints had risen, with over half of PCTs admitting an increase in the number of complaints. Of these, 60 per cent were about charges, 37.6 per cent about access and 28.2 per cent directly about orthodontics.

The report comes after the Government announced new NHS training places would be made available to dentistry graduates in areas of the highest patient need, including Yorkshire.

The Patients Association report said there was “an unacceptably variable service depending on the PCT commissioning the services” which represented “another glaring example of the NHS postcode lottery”.

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