GOVERNMENT plans which could bring relief to the 'dental desert' in the Burnley area have been applauded by a local MP.

Pendle's Gordon Prentice welcomed the proposal to inject an extra £9 million into NHS dental services this year and urged local health chiefs to make an early bid for a share of the cash.

Health Minister Alan Milburn announced the money would be used to tackle inequalities and inaccessibility in the national service.

And Mr Prentice said today that meant good news for the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale area whose children had the worst teeth in England.

There was also widespread concern last year when health chiefs admitted there was a 'months'-long' waiting list to become an NHS patient in Burnley. Mr Prentice said: "It is an excellent initiative which I am sure will benefit an area I have described as a dental desert.

"I have written to Bill Ashworth, chairman of East Lancashire Health Authority, asking for details of the bid he will be making for our share of the cash."

Mr Milburn said the new programme would make money available to areas with insufficient numbers of dentists providing NHS dentistry, or where large numbers of patients were not receiving satisfactory provision of NHS dental services.

Health authorities will be asked to submit proposals for schemes which expand existing practices or set up new ones to allow an increase in the number of NHS-registered rather than private patients.

Schemes will also have to include an assurance that participating dentists will maintain the commitment for a minimum period of time, linked to the type of grant received.

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