THE task of finding an NHS dentist for hundreds of New Forest residents could be made easier.

Health bosses have said they will put together a plan to ensure Ringwood residents get the same access to a dentist as the rest of the New Forest and Hampshire.

It follows a meeting between Councillor Terry Scriven and John Richards, the outgoing chief executive of the New Forest PCT.

"It was an excellent meeting and the undertaking by John Richards will be greatly appreciated by the people of Ringwood," Cllr Scriven said.

The meeting was called in response to a Lib Dem survey of the Ringwood North ward which revealed that more than 100 residents, including many children, are unable to find an NHS dentist.

The survey of almost 4,000 people also found that most respondents were getting no treatment, some were having to travel as far as Bournemouth or Southampton, while others were forced to go private.

Cllr Scriven said health bosses would now carry out a study and produce a plan that would "ensure fair access for the residents of Ringwood to an NHS dentist, which was comparable to the rest of the New Forest and Hampshire."

A PCT spokesman said expansion plans for a Ringwood dental practice fell through because of difficulty in "securing suitable recruits".