EUROPEAN dentists could be shipped to Morecambe Bay to help ease the pain of NHS waiting lists.

It is estimated that as many as 150,000 people - or half the local population - could be awaiting treatment.

And health bosses say recruiting from overseas could be part of the solution.

Chiefs at Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust say they are working hard on ideas to solve the problem.

David Tyson, service imp-rovement manager for dental services, says the number of dentists quitting the NHS is now being matched by new dentists. But he recognises there is still a shortage of manpower.

A helpline operated by trained dental nurses has been launched.

It can offer advice to people whose dentists have decided to opt out of the NHS and is also a contact point for patients who need emer-gency treatment.

The PCT is also hoping to sign practices up to a local contract to commit them to treating NHS patients for three years.

Contracts differ from the current system under which dentists are paid a fee for each treatment they carry out.

Under new terms, practices will receive regular cash from the PCT based on the work they have done previously and on treating a population of patients.

Mr Tyson says that the PCT hopes to have 16 practices out of the 53 across the Bay signed up by April.

It has also recruited three full-time staff to work in the dental access centres in Morecambe and Barrow.

Mr Tyson adds: "We are trying to get our heads round it and get things moving but the core problem will still be there for a little while.

"Until we get more dentists working in practices we are not going to be able to offer this on-going care for people that want it that's the key."

THE number to call for the NHS dental helpline for Morecambe Bay is 01524-405726.