ANOTHER Malvern dental practice has chosen to opt out of NHS treatment.

The Dental Practice at Barnards Green has written to its patients explaining that in future they must join its own dental care plan - a monthly payment scheme.

The practice has around 5,000 patients, although children on its books will continue to receive NHS treatment.

The practice is following in the footsteps of other local dentists, many of whom have opted out of the NHS system in the last two years. This has left thousands of people in the Malvern Hills area without access to NHS treatment.

The practice says it has remained "steadfastly loyal" to the NHS and has provided a full range of NHS dental services in Malvern since 1981.

However, it says successive governments have failed to keep abreast of funding costs or developments in modern dental techniques.

"After a great deal of thought we have created our own dental care plan, which is designed to reduce the costs to patients while at the same time allowing us to continue to provide modern dentistry and invest in the practice," says a statement.

The care plan allows patients to pay monthly for their twice-yearly check-ups, hygiene and x-rays. They will also receive 20 per cent discount on any necessary treatment.

Paul Bates, acting chief executive at the Primary Care Trust, said: "The Primary Care Trust is disappointed that this is yet another practice in Malvern that is deregistering a large proportion of their NHS patients from their books."

He said the PCT was working hard to to improve access to NHS dentistry in Malvern.

A new practice will open in Spring Lane, Malvern Link, in the summer and the PCT has recruited two NHS dentists in the past year, one at the Dental Access Centre in Osborne Road and the other at Richmond Dental Practice in Richmond Road.

For more information, call the dental helpline on 01905 760111.