WE were pleased to see the letter from the British Dental Association (LET, October 23,) bringing to people's attention the effect of new regulations which will mean that patients will automatically be taken off a dentist's register after 15 months, if they have not been seen during that time (previously, it was 24 months).

The public of East Lancashire need to realise what this means, because of the acute shortage of NHS dentists practising in this area.

You may be unknowingly no longer registered with a dentist.

Therefore when you next need treatment, either routine or emergency, you may find that you have no dentist, with little prospect of finding another NHS dentist in East Lancashire. It is estimated that 60 per cent of East Lancashire people are currently not registered with a dentist.

This puts pressure on other parts of the NHS, when an unregistered patient needs immediate attention - seeking help at a hospital Accident and Emergency Department, or from their GP.

The lack of NHS dentists in this area is truly a crisis which needs to be addressed both by East Lancashire Health Authority and by the government.

The government needs to show its commitment to the NHS. Taking action to enable us all to receive care under NHS dentist is an important way in which it can do that.

HELEN GEE, Chief Officer, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council; and NIGEL ROBINSON, Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council.

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