A NEW dentist practice in Oxford has been refused funding to look after NHS patients.

Although thousands of people are searching for somewhere which offers low-cost dental care, Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust has rejected an application from Eurodental, which has opened in London Road, Headington.

As a result, dentist Susan Nikzad has decided to lower her practice's private care prices in line with NHS fees, so more people can afford basic check-ups and treatment.

She said: "We can't offer NHS care, because the PCT hasn't got any money to fund us.

"People are entitled to NHS care, but can't have it because of the simple matter of money.

"We know there's a good demand for NHS dental care in Oxfordshire because of a lack of NHS dentists.

"Until we can provide NHS care we'll provide something similar in cost to our patients."

Mrs Nikzad, who already runs two practices in Swindon, said people often failed to get vital treatment because they could not afford it.

She added: "When dental treatment is available at a cheaper, affordable rate, then obviously a lot more people decide to go to a dentist.

"But if you don't have enough money to pay for the normal things in life then dental treatment is a low priority. We're trying to provide something that will make a bit of a difference.

"I'd particularly like to help elderly patients and it's just unfortunate we're unable to provide NHS care."

Mrs Nikzad hopes Oxfordshire PCT will agree to give her an NHS contract in the next financial year, beginning in April 2008, but until then she is offering patients private care at slightly more expensive prices than what they would pay under the NHS - because they have to include the cost of funding that would be paid by the PCT.

While an NHS check-up would cost £15.90, Eurodental will charge £20, and £60 for a filling, compared to £43.60 on the NHS.

Earlier this month, we disclosed that the PCT, which spends about £20m on NHS dentistry every year, had set up a dedicated phone line to help people find an NHS dentist.

Managers were unable to confirm how many people were awaiting NHS treatment, but would not deny the number had reached thousands.

PCT service development manager Nicky Wadely said: "Eurodental was not given funding because there was already good provision of NHS dentistry in the Headington area.

"No further application to provide NHS treatment has been received from the practice."

Ms Wadely claimed there was funding for NHS dental care, but would not be drawn on how much money was available and said the PCT was working to improve access to current NHS dentists while a new commissioning strategy was drawn up.

She added: "We recognise we need to improve patient access to NHS dental treatment across the county."