IN the week that the NHS celebrated it’s 70th birthday, I was informed by The Holmes Chapel Dental Practice, on making a routine check up appointment, that any further appointments would no longer be NHS funded because of the lack of available replacement NHS dentists, despite efforts to recruit one.

If I, who coincidentally also celebrated 70 last week, now have to pay privately or travel to neighbouring towns, what chance does a family with young children and no transport have, to ensure the important protection of their children’s teeth?

Let us celebrate the NHS by all means, but also acknowledge its shortcomings.

David Hulme Goostrey