THE vast majority of dentists in north Hampshire have signed up to the new NHS contract.

Only six out of 34 local dentists have not signed up and so will no longer be offering NHS dental treatment.

The situation is reflected across the county - 275 out of 345 dentists are now signed up to the three-year contract, which simplifies charges for dental work.

Peter Campion, spokesman for North Hampshire Primary Care Trust, said: "The six dentists in north Hampshire that did not sign up were largely private already.

"Where practices have stopped NHS work, we will be reinvesting the money in other NHS practices."

Stella Saunders, consultant in dental public health for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said: "This is a much more optimistic picture than the public might have been expecting and certainly good news for patients."

There was fear across the UK that dentists would refuse to sign up to the new contract, which came into force on April 1. Across the country, about 2,000 dentists refused to sign the new contract.

But health minister Rosie Winterton said: "Claims that dentists would leave the NHS in mass exodus were unfounded.

"Around nine out of 10 dentists have signed the new contracts, and these dentists provide about 96 per cent of current NHS dental services.

"PCTs are already making progress in replacing the small proportion of services where dentists have not taken up the new contract - something they did not have the power to do under the old system."

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority is advising anyone in north Hampshire who has lost their NHS dentist to contact North Hampshire PCT on 01256 332288.

Alternatively, call the NHS Dental Helpline for north Hampshire on 023 8033 8336.

First published: Thursday, April 13, 2006