MORE patients in Pembroke-shire will have access to an NHS dentist by this summer.

The Local Health Board (LHB) confirmed on Thursday that while it recognises the difficulties that exist in Pembrokeshire, it is hopeful its database of unregistered patients will be significantly reduced in the forthcoming months.

Business manager, Louise Morris, told the Western Telegraph: "The situation is starting to improve in Pembrokeshire with a number of dentists applying for NHS contracts.

"We are hopeful that joint initiatives over the next few months with the Welsh Assembly Government will reduce our database further."

The confirmation comes after Welsh Assembly shadow health minister, Helen Mary Jones, castigated health minister, Brian Gibbons, for 'allowing the NHS dentistry crisis to deepen'.

AM Ms Jones, spoke out ahead of a debate on NHS dentistry in Wales.

She said: "Back in 1999 New Labour promised in their manifesto to ensure that patients have access to NHS dentists in all parts of Wales - they broke that promise."

According to Assembly figures released in September 2005, only 22.9% of the population in Pembrokeshire were registered with a dentist - the lowest in the country.

Ms Jones insists the Assembly Government should stop consulting among themselves and start consulting with the people who matter.

But, a Pembrokeshire dentist, who did not wish to be named, said: "As far as Pembrokeshire is concerned, the situation is improving thanks to Welsh Assembly initiatives. While people may have a problem right at this moment, by early summer the situation will improve dramatically."

The LHB is keen to stress that all emergency problems experienced by unregistered patients can be dealt with by an LHB-employed dentist, who operates Monday to Friday in Milford Haven. There is also a Saturday morning emergency session at Winch Lane, Haverfordwest.