THOUSANDS more dental patients are to be left outside the NHS after another York practice opted to go private.

Woodthorpe Dental Centre, in Moorcroft Road, has written to its patients informing them of the change which comes completely into effect in September.

A letter to patients says: "As you will be aware, the Government imposed a new dental contract in April this year.

"We have run the new contract for a few months now and it has rapidly become obvious that the new contract will not allow us to maintain the quality of service that you are used to."

The practice's two dentists see about 2,500 patients, of which some 2,000 are NHS.

Kris Leeson, one of the dentists, explained how he had been funded to treat NHS patients under a scheme for newly qualified practitioners.

But that contract would come to an end next month which meant he would have had to sign up to a new one with Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT).

He said this contract would have meant seeing an extra 50 patients a week, which would compromise patient care.

"The contract would be unrealistic and not viable," he said. "We would have turned into more of an emergency centre."

The practice's other dentist, who does not see many NHS patients, has also decided to leave the NHS contract he had signed up to in April which meant the practice would be completely private.

Coun Sue Galloway, adult social services boss for City of York Council, said the withdrawal of NHS treatment would be a "big blow" to a "huge number of local residents".

"I understand that the surgery is struggling with the government's new contract, but I am sad that the only option for residents will now be to pay for treatment," she said.

"The payment options are not cheap £12 per month could be quite a struggle for many.

"I am very worried that as more dentists leave the NHS, fewer people will go for regular checkups.

"Dental check-ups are vital to detect serious diseases such as oral cancer at an early stage."

Kay Goodwin, from the PCT, said if dental practices left the NHS the money remained with the local health service and alternative practices could be commissioned elsewhere.

She said: "Selby and York PCT is committed to delivering high quality NHS dental services and we are working with dentists who have committed themselves to NHS dentistry to increase capacity across the Selby and York area.

"So far, since 1 May 2006, just under 1600 patients on our dental database have been offered places. We are continuing to work with our dental colleagues to increase this capacity further."