AN MP has accused dentists of forcing patients to pay for private services after an acute shortage of NHS places was revealed in parts of County Durham.

Health bosses have admitted the situation in Durham City and Chester-le-Street is a serious problem with no practice taking on new NHS patients in the areas.

It comes less than a fortnight after thousands of extra places with NHS dentists were announced for surgeries in North Yorkshire, one of the hardest hit areas by a national crisis in NHS dentistry.

The Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust is looking to employ a salaried NHS dentist to boost the number of places available.

But it could be three months before someone is recruited and the successful candidate will be split between Durham City and Chester-le-Street.

The shortfall was last night criticised by Durham MP Gerry Steinberg who said dentists could earn double their £50,000 salaries by going private.

He said: "It is clear that private schemes are now being imposed on patients, who feel compelled to pay up.

"I particularly object to the imposition of these private plans on children, whose parents have little choice but to pay, in order to ensure the good dental health of their loved ones, especially important when teeth are developing.

"I think it is about time dentists stopped expecting the public to pay to enhance their income in the private sector and instead concentrated on providing a valuable dental service to all patients on the NHS, irrespective of their ability to pay."

The scale of the crisis in NHS dentistry was brought to a head in February when more than 3,000 people queued to be registered at a newly-opened NHS practice in Scarborough because of a lack of places.

As well as employing a salaried dentist, Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT) said last night it was hoping to secure funding for a second dentist.

PCT director of public health Tricia Cresswell said: "There is a lack of access for new patients. It is a serious problem.

"The PCT has no power to make dentists take on patients because dentists are not tied to the PCT like GPs are and many are choosing to work privately.

"As well as taking on a salaried dentist, we are also working with current practitioners to make it more attractive for them to work in the NHS.

"Things are going to get better, not worse."

People already registered with an NHS dentist will continue to receive treatment.