PEOPLE are crossing the border into Herefordshire to snap up experimental NHS dental services.

Significant numbers are seeking treatment under a pilot scheme operating in the county aimed at finding a solution to the growing national crisis in NHS dental care.

Such is the demand for the seven-days-a-week service that some patients are being quoted a 12-month wait for a check-up.

Much of the delay is created by more dentists locally quitting the NHS leaving even more people unregistered and needing the clinics.

But another main reason is the number of people from neighbouring counties, specially Powys and south Shropshire, where the same service is not available, crossing into Herefordshire to take advantage.

A mobile clinic serving the Kington area, and the clinic at Leominster have been most affected by the 'outsiders'.

Herefordshire Health Authority won extra money from the Department of Health to pilot the NHS Dental Access Centre scheme and started in October 2000.

In 12 months up to the end of March this year five clinics in the county had 26,000 contacts.

In some of them people coming from across the border are said to be 'significant' but none can be turned away.

The main priority of the clinics is to provide swift treatment for pain relief. It is guaranteed within 24 hours and is available 365 days a year.

Check-up

People who are not registered with a NHS dentist can also make appointments for a dental check -p and receive one course of treatment.

After this is completed the same patient would have to start from the beginning again and join the queue - and often a one-year wait for an examination.

The service does not register people under the NHS.

Christine Owen, Herefordshire Primary Care Trust's head of dental services, said the scheme was proving extremely successful in areas where there were increasing NHS problems.

She confirmed waiting times were aggravated by the numbers crossing over the county border for the service, but they could not turn anyone away, if in pain, or from making an appointment.

All the dentists working in the scheme were salaried.

The service had managed to recruit a good number of dentists, but there was not yet a full complement and some clinics were operating on a part time basis.

At the present time there are two dental access clinics in Hereford, in Gaol Street and Ross Road, one each at Leominster, Ross-on-Wye and Ledbury Hospitals, and a newly-opened clinic at Ewyas Harold.

On June 3 one will open at the new Kington Court Care Centre, initially for three days a week.

A mobile clinic, currently used in the Kington area, will be deployed elsewhere in the county.

It is not yet known how long the pilot scheme will continue in Herefordshire and if the Department of Health will continue to provide the money.