AN MP is calling on health officials to improve efforts to attract more NHS dental treatment for North Yorkshire residents.

Ryedale MP John Greenway has written to the Ryedale, Scarborough and Whitby Primary Care Group after receiving complaints from constituents in Malton and Norton.

"It is not acceptable for people to have to travel to York or Scarborough to receive their NHS treatment," he said.

"I am aware there have been complaints from people in the town about the lack of NHS dentists and something needs to be done."

Mr Greenway added: "Depending on the response I get from them, I shall be writing to the Health Minister to highlight what is clearly becoming a national problem."

It emerged last week that thousands of patients in Malton and Norton were facing losing NHS treatment.

The Criterion Dental Sur-gery, in Finkle Street, Malton, said it was going private, leaving existing NHS patients to find a new dentist.

Because there are no more spaces left with other NHS dentists, patients are being forced to register at surgeries in either Scarborough or York.