SHOCKING figures show the number of new patients in the north west who are unable to access NHS Dental Care.

It comes after the Warrington Guardian reported that 100 people queued as early as 2.30am to secure an NHS place at MyDentist in Wesbtrook.

This was after the practice sent out an email informing residents that it will be accepting 20 NHS registrations once a month on a first come, first served basis.

Despite the practice opening at 9am, people queued for hours before and even brought camp chairs to pitch up in the queue.

READ MORE > Over 100 people queue from as early as 2.30am for place at NHS dentist in Warrington

Now, new data from The Office for Nationalist Statistics Experiences has revealed that 93.4 per cent of new patients in the region who try are unsuccessful in accessing NHS dentistry.

Of those in the region who failed to secure care, 13.3 per cent were recorded as going private and 1.8 per cent reported going to A&E.

Medics are neither trained nor equipped to provide dental treatment. More than three quarters (76.8 per cent) did nothing, which the British Dental Association (BDA) warn will only lead to greater burdens and the health service if early signs of disease are left unchecked.

Tooth decay is the number one reason or hospital admissions among young children.

The BDA has welcomed the tone set by the new Government, who accepted that NHS dentistry is ‘broken’, and stated that closing the oral health gap – particularly where children are concerned – represents a “moral crusade. The professional body says urgency and ambition are now required.

 Lord Darzi’s independent review of the NHS has echoed the BDA’s call to fix the broken contract fuelling the access and workforce crises in NHS dentistry.

The report observed: "If dentistry is to continue as a core NHS service, urgent action is needed to develop a contract that balances activity and prevention, is attractive to dentists and rewards those dentists who practice in less served areas.”

BDA Chair Eddie Crouch said: “This is a reminder that for new patients in the North West NHS dentistry has effectively ceased to exist.

 “This crisis is piling pressure across our health service, forcing some to go private, while others in agony simply forgo needed care.

“We will keep seeing desperate scenes outside dental practices the length and breadth of this country until we see real reform.”