Patients overwhelm NHS dentists

Health chiefs say they will change registration for a Penzance practice

Patients face a year-long wait to discover if they have a place at a new NHS dentists in Cornwall after the practice was flooded with applicants.

The Bond Street practice in Redruth received more than 9,000 applications, but there are only enough places for about 7,500 people.

Some patients say they have been trying a telephone helpline for weeks.

The three-dentist practice, which opened on Monday, is registering people on a first come, first served basis.

I have worked and paid tax all my life to the National Health and now I am denied treatment Ron Nicholls

Camborne pensioner Ron Nicholls, who lost his NHS place at a former practice in the town, said: "We tried and tried to get through on the phone and when we went down there we were told they had too many applications.

"We will have to go private now.

"I think it's a load of rubbish. I have worked and paid tax all my life to the National Health and now I am denied treatment."

The practice said in a statement: "We are asking people to be patient. Those that registered in September are unlikely to be contacted until July or August next year."

Adrian Tyas, director of the West of Cornwall Primary Care Trust's support agency, said the practice's statement was "not a very good response".

He said: "We did not expect as many applications as quickly as there were.

"We will try and do something to speed registration up."

Another NHS dentist is planned for Penzance and registration is expected to start in about six weeks time, which Mr Tyas said could be via forms in local papers and online.

In Liskeard last year another NHS dentist received 4,000 applications in one day.