THE severe shortage of NHS dentists in Blackburn and Darwen is to be scrutinised by a new health forum.

The Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forum, which replaced the Community Health Council as the public health watchdog in December 2003, has earmarked the dentist shortage as a major issue to be scrutinised in the coming months.

Blackburn and Darwen's PPI will formally agree an action plan as part of its annual report at their first public meeting this month.

Spokesman Melrose Diack said: "As a forum, we are becoming increasingly concerned about the level of dentist provision in the Blackburn and Darwen areas.

"People are unable to find a dentist who will take them on as a NHS patient, and for the lucky few who do, they often have to wait months for an appointment.

"The NHS dentists in the area simply cannot cope with the demand.

"This issue is affecting more and more people. We therefore want to look at whether enough is being done to attract more dentists to the area, look at the standard of existing dentist provision, particularly for children and also to consider the implications of the new dental contract which will start next year.

"This isn't a problem affecting just our area, it would appear many areas are experiencing a shortage.

"In the future, we will be looking to join forces with other forums to exert further pressure on the relevant bodies."

The forum's first public meeting will take place on Friday at 2pm in the Old Town Hall, Blackburn.

More information is available by calling 01254 300696 or on email at health@elp.org.uk