NHS dental care bosses said there are no immediate plans to boost access to the service in North Yorkshire, after hearing new patients had not been accepted in some areas for nearly two years.

North Yorkshire County Council’s scrutiny of health committee was told dentists in areas such as Catterick and Richmond had handed back their NHS contracts, leading to NHS England launching “interim solutions” to ensure patients could access NHS dentistry until next March.

The meeting heard the NHS was seeking “further clarification on whether procurement for these services is required”.

NHS bosses said in the 24 months to September last year, nearly 300,000 patients saw an NHS dentist in the county and when “budgets allow” funds may be released to boost access.

Members were told as NHS dental care in North Yorkshire was facing a challenge in attracting dentists and staff to work in the county, a drive to support training places in the county was being examined.