THE HEATH authority in charge of the dental practice that was besieged with would-be patients vying for NHS treatment has admitted there is a 'major problem' with providing care.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, more than 200 people queued for 100 places on the books of Whiteley Dental Practice, which opened its doors to NHS patients for one morning only.

It was the first time in a year any dentist in the Fareham and Gosport area had offered more than a handful of NHS places, prompting a deluge of residents to queue outside the Parkway practice.

Tony Lynn, dental advisor for the Mid-Hampshire Primary Care Trust which oversees some dental services in Whiteley, said the problem was serious.

"The lack of NHS dentists in my experience is a major problem and one which has got steadily worse," he said.

"For dentists it is a question of quality of life; the NHS has been getting more and more out of them for less and less return. They feel under increasing pressure for very little reward."

He added that in communities such as Whiteley the problem is more acute.

He said: "Whiteley is very much a mushrooming community and services can be out of touch with demand until the statistics catch up. Certainly the root of the problem though is funding - local authorities just don't get allocated cash from government to dedicate to dentistry. It has never been a government priority."

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, Ian Capewell, who runs the practice, said he had enquired about opening another surgery in Whiteley but had been turned down by health authorities.

Mr Lynn said: "The lack of funding that is available to care trusts like us is being addressed and plans have been put forward by central government for more localised funding to be made available.

"That would mean authorities like Primary Care Trusts would be responsible for assessing the situation in their area and allocating money as appropriate."

Have you had trouble getting on the books of a NHS dentist in south Hampshire? Contact our health reporter, Emma Barnett, on 023 8042 4505 or e-mail emma.barnett@soton-echo.co.uk