HEALTH chiefs have unveiled plans to create 20,000 new NHS dental places in Burnley within two years.

Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust has announced the move in a bid to counteract the growing tide of dentists turning private.

And today Catriona Logan, the PCT''s director of service provision, warned surgeons they were making a mistake by going private.

She said: "The PCT can offer stability and a long-term future for dentists. We see it as being worth their while staying with the NHS.

"Those who leave might live to regret it when our full expansion plans are up and running."

The move comes after two more dentists, who between them have more than 4,500 patients, announced plans to offer private treatment.

Michael Glover of Brierfield Dental Practice, Burnley Road, and Dermot Bowles, who runs a surgery in Todmorden Road, Burnley, are to go private because they disagree with the NHS contract.

However, Mr Glover said he would still treat children on the NHS.

The PCT said it hoped to have the 20,000 "slots" in place within two years. The plans include:

l Expanding a dentists in Padiham Road, Burnley, by 8,000 subject to planning permission

l Creating a further 7,500 spaces in the borough next year

l Providing dental treatment at the new St Peter's Health and Leisure Centre when it opens next summer.

Mrs Logan said the PCT had finalised new NHS contracts designed to ease dentists' workload and had also created extra space for emergency treatment.

She added: "We have a track record of moving quickly and effectively in trying to solve these difficulties that are thrust upon us.

"It is not easy in an area where traditionally around 50 per cent of the population has not registered with a dentist but just relied on urgent care provision.

"We are delighted with the number of dentists who have accepted the new contract. It aims to improve the working lives of dentists, while providing a more preventative approach to dental care."