PATIENTS were urged not to panic yesterday, after a Darlington dentist decided to opt out of his NHS contract.

Health officials at Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) reassured the public there was no cause for concern after being inundated by calls from former patients of Gary Parker, who practises in Woodlands Road.

Darlington has 19 dental practices, and all but two retain their NHS contracts. The new dental care system, introduced last year, put an end to dentists having registers of patients and they can now visit any dentist of their choice, who has room for them.

NHS patients benefit from new fixed prices and assured quality under the terms of the new contracts. Alternatively, they can obtain information about private dentistry and dental health care insurance from their dentist.

But customers of Mr Parker's surgery are unhappy that they now face a minimum nine-month wait just to get registered with another NHS dentist.

Brenda Steer, 77, of Darlington, received a letter from Mr Parker's surgery on Friday. While she praised her dentist, who she said was a credit to the profession, Mrs Steer said she was upset that dentists felt the need to go private.

"It's a scandal. What are the Government doing? They were supposed to be making it easier for us," she said. "It's all very well for those with money, but I'm on pension credit."

Darlington PCT patient advice and liaison service (Pals) manager Clare Hinton said the value of the contract surrendered by Mr Parker would be available to buy in services from the town's other dentists. This will increase access to routine NHS appointments for patients.

"The new system offers much more patient choice and quality of service," she said. "Many of our dental practices still have capacity and waiting times of just one to two weeks."

For more information, contact Pals on 0800-783-5774, or check on line at www.nhs.uk/servicedirec tories.

Emergency appointments can be made by calling 0191-333-3315, between 8.30am and 9am on weekdays.