IT is billed as the biggest shake-up in dental care since the National Health Service (NHS) began. But back in 1948, signing up with a dentist was painless.

What a contrast to 2006. The reforms to be introduced in April will kick thousands of York and Selby residents out of NHS dental care, to join the multitude already denied the service.

It is already impossible to join an NHS dentist round here. Now a quarter of the region's remaining health service practices are going private, and a further quarter have yet to make a decision.

Ministers insist the contracts offer a good deal, with a guaranteed income for less work. But with half of local practices either rejecting them outright or reluctant to sign up, dentists are far from convinced.

Some may be delighted to go private and command higher fees. But we have spoken to dentists who have served the NHS loyally for decades, and feel they are being forced down the private path by the reorganisation.

The Government's utter lack of concern about its self-created crisis is shameful. Ministers talk breezily of the number of dentists in training. But what guarantee is there that they will stay in the NHS upon qualification?

The situation could soon worsen. It is said some of those dentists signing the new contracts only plan to stay in the health service for another year.

Billions of pounds have been spent on health care in the last few years. Yet North Yorkshire residents already have no chance of joining an NHS dentist, and could soon be left with a single doctor on call at night. What happened to the 1948 principle of health care for all?

Updated: 09:47 Wednesday, March 15, 2006