SIX months after patients called for urgent action to combat a shortage of dentists in Manchester, health bosses have failed to provide any extra services.

A health watchdog found people who couldn't get an NHS dentist for themselves or their children are going without because they can't afford to pay for private care.

A survey of 240 people in April found some were travelling across the region for care with one man told to travel to Chester for an emergency appointment. Another person with painful toothache was told they would have to wait two weeks for an appointment.

And dentists' representatives say `unacceptable' problems extend across much of Greater Manchester, with dentists opting out of the new NHS contract and health bosses failing to replace them.

Manchester Primary Care Trust say they have set up a helpline for people trying to find a dentist. They are providing emergency services and are `in the process' of organising extra services.

The report by patients' group Manchester Health Watchdog said: "Access to dental services is the main issue for members of the public in Manchester and this urgently needs to be addressed across the city."

Michael Snaith, from the watchdog, said: "People are still struggling to get a dentist in Manchester. It is one of the biggest problems in the region, and it is disappointing there doesn't appear to have been more progress in the last six months despite our calls for urgent improvements."

As reported in later editions of yesterday's M.E.N., a third of people across the north west are not registered with an NHS dentist because they are unable to find one. Last year dentists in Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton and Trafford North were among the busiest with an average of more than 3,000 patients per NHS dentist.

Tariq Drabu, who found hundred of people queuing outside his doors when he opened Langley Dental Practice in Middleton in 2005, says NHS dentists are overloaded since the introduction of the contract 18 months ago.

He said: "Some of the stories highlighted in the report are clearly unacceptable. No one should be in pain, especially children, and no one should be resorting to treating themselves."

A spokeswoman for Manchester PCT said: "We are working towards improving access to quality NHS dental services across Manchester. We are also in the process of commissioning additional NHS dental services for the people of Manchester.

For people experiencing problems accessing NHS dental care in the city, there are three NHS Dental Access Centres in the city which deal with both planned and emergency treatment. These are at: Manchester Dental Hospital, Kath Locke Centre, Hulme and Victoria Mill, Miles Platting."

Manchester dental helpline: 0161 237 2596 or see www.manchesterpct.nhs.uk