MORE than 20,000 new patients in North Yorkshire should have access to an NHS dentist from next January, health officials have said.

But Leyburn residents are still waiting for provision, nearly a year after a contract was awarded.

North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust has been heavily criticised for failing to provide NHS treatment after many dentists turned private following new contracts.

The trust announced yesterday that ADP Dental Co has been awarded a contract to restore NHS dentistry to Harrogate, Scarborough, York and either Catterick Garrison or Richmond, from January. Surgery locations have yet to be agreed.

Over the next three years, ADP is due to take on the 20,000 NHS patients, allocated from the PCT's dental database, the trust said. Patients who are already on the database will be contacted automatically by ADP.

Dr Janet Soo-Chung, PCT chief executive, said: "We are committed to improving access to NHS dental care to meet the needs of the local population. We are confident that the plans we have put in place with ADP will ensure that, in future, local patients who wish to access NHS dental care will be able to do so."

ADP commercial manager Duncan Jones said: "We are delighted to have been awarded this contract, and look forward to working closely with the PCT to establish high quality NHS dental services across North Yorkshire."

Patients in Leyburn are still waiting for NHS dentistry to be restored after a contract was awarded to Birmingham-based Primecare, in July last year.

The company appointed dentists and the PCT said surgeries would open last October, but delays over the lease of premises in Brentwood continue to hold up the process.

People can register for NHS dental care in the future by calling 01845-573865 for Hambleton and Richmondshire, 01423-876413 for Craven and Harrogate, 01653-600800 for Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale, and 01904-724107 for York and Selby.

Urgent dental treatment is available from North Yorkshire Dental Care Service via NHS Direct, call 0845-4647.