A SENIOR dentist has lobbied the Government in an attempt to tackle York's spiralling dental crisis.

British Dental Association chairman John Renshaw's talks with Health Secretary John Reid emerged as York's dental woes reached a new nadir.

The Evening Press contacted NHS Direct to register with a city practice.

But not one was taking NHS newcomers - and we were told to travel 20 miles to Harrogate for a routine check-up.

We called again this Tuesday and struck lucky: Lawrence Street was the only York site taking new patients. It was a good job... Hull was another option offered.

However, June appointments were only available from this week at the York practice because a dentist switched to full-time work.

Lawrence Street also took new registrations in January, but soon stopped after 400 raced to register. Now there is another rush, the surgery confirmed.

Scarborough-based Mr Renshaw branded the York situation "ridiculous".

He blamed poorly-paid non-private work, lack of funding and too few dentists for a shortfall, highlighted when hundreds queued in Scarborough to register for state treatment.

When dental shortages recently hit the East Coast, residents reportedly flocked to sign up for York treatment. He said: "York has been bad for some time, despite a lot of dentists in the city. Quite a few are providing NHS services, but for people already on the books.

"Newcomers are suffering."

Travelling 20-plus miles for treatment was a "nonsense". He said: "The inconvenience and time-wasting this causes is ridiculous - it's almost cheaper to go private."

One patient who moved to York two years ago has still not managed to register with a city dentist. "It's just easier to stay with my dentist in Harrogate," she said.

Mr Renshaw met John Reid last week to discuss the crisis.

Possible solutions aired by the Health Minister include block payments to make NHS work more attractive, swelling dental graduate numbers, and "importing" 1,125 foreign graduates.

Mr Renshaw welcomed the bid for a dentist training centre at the new York-Hull Medical School, but said that it would be years before increased numbers would take effect.

Plans to attract foreign graduates could create cultural problems and were unrealistic. Other countries had similar shortfalls, he said.

Unregistered patients needing emergency dental work can phone 0845 4647.

Updated: 11:03 Friday, April 02, 2004