SINTELLENERS are facing enormous difficulty accessing an NHS dentist with many forced to suffer in pain or fork out for eyewatering private treatment.

The availability of NHS dentists is a nationwide issue but after examining the dentists providing NHS treatment in St Helens, which is freely available to view on the NHS website, it’s highlighted that of the 25 practices in St Helens and neighbouring Prescot and Whiston, 0 appear to be taking on new patients.

Appointments can be made for urgent referral and some practices are taking on for children aged 17 and under only.

Unlike GP services, dental patients can sign up to practices outside of their home area.

Currently the two closest dental practices are in Liverpool and the Wirral.

These are: Mr M Al-Sharkawi 106-108 Childwall Priory Road, Liverpool, Merseyside, L16 7PF

Banks House Dental Practice 143 Banks Road, West Kirby, Wirral, Merseyside, CH48 3HS 0151 625 6829

To look at the website, go to nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist/