WORRIED health bosses are seeking Government help to plug gaps in an 'alarming shortage' of NHS dentistry.

East Lancashire Health Authority has submitted a bid for up to £40,000 to boost the availability of treatment in the district.

Its chairman Bill Ashworth said the money would not go far but was "better than nothing."

Health chiefs are becoming increasingly concerned about the lack of NHS dentistry, especially in the Burnley and Pendle areas.

They have already met Pendle MP Gordon Prentice, who has expressed his concern.

Mr Ashworth said: "One difficulty is that we are not in a position to allocate patients to a dentist in the same way as we can allocate to GPs. "Staff make every effort to help people who need dental treatment and they have some success.

"The Government is introducing a scheme which invites health authorities to bid for individual grants of up to £40,000.

"These are to enable them to fund local solutions to local problems of availability.

"But we are concerned because lots of people are not registered with a dentist and need urgent attention."

Meanwhile the health authority is continuing its campaign to persuade North West Water to fluoridate the water supply.

"We are advised that fluoridation is the most effective way of ensuring healthy teeth for the children of East Lancashire," Mr Ashworth added.

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