I WONDER how many amongst us are experiencing problems getting local dental care on the NHS.

I recently have been informed that my dentist will no longer see me as an NHS patient as, he feels, he is unable to provide me with a good level of care with the money he receives from the NHS.

I presently travel some 15 miles to Plympton as already there are no dentists locally accepting NHS patients. I don?t find this a problem but, last week, I received a letter from NHS headquarters informing me that there are currently no dentists in the Plymouth area who will accept me as a new NHS patient, except in an emergency

If this is true, it is an appalling state of affairs. How far do they want to make me travel to see the dentist? The NHS blames a national shortage of dentists but it is my guess that this is not the problem. If the payment they receive for carrying out NHS work is not sufficient to do the job properly, no wonder they don?t want to do it and, if the work is unprofitable, why should they do it?

I don?t blame dentists but I do blame the government and I want them to address the issue, so I have written to my MP. I suggest if other readers feel the same, they do likewise.

Richard Guilor

Eversleigh

Glanville Road

Tavistock