I WRITE on behalf of a significant number of older people in York who have come to us for help in finding a National Health Service dentist to treat them.

Despite the promises made by Mr Blair that everyone should have access to a NHS dentist by 2001, the situation seems to be worsening. More and more dentists seem to be increasingly reluctant to take on NHS patients.

The policy of importing dentists from other countries hardly seems to be a resounding success if the experiences of Scarborough are anything to go by.

The national service framework for older people clearly states that healthy ageing is its prime concern and that local health systems should be able to demonstrate improvements year on year. There is also emphasis on healthy eating for older people.

How can this be achieved when there are older people who cannot eat things such as fruit and vegetables because they cannot chew because of a lack of dentures or teeth, which are heat or cold sensitive due to lack of preventative treatment?

How long can the NHS Direct centre continue to cope with an influx of people desperate for dental treatment?

Worse still, how long before "do it yourself dentistry" is commonplace?

The Government is failing yet again to deliver the promises of a healthy and discrimination-free life in later years.

I have written to Hugh Bayley urging him on behalf of the older citizens of York to take this matter yet again to parliament to bring about a swift and effective solution to the crisis. I await a reply and outcome.

Linda Tester,

Service Manager,

Older Citizens Advocacy York,

Townend Street,

York.

Updated: 10:37 Thursday, June 24, 2004