"PUT your money where our mouths are" - that's Brenda Portman's challenge to Tony Blair after she was refused funding for three new NHS dental surgeries.

After a prolonged battle to get planning permission for additional surgeries, the dental practice owner has been dealt a massive blow with the news that her appeal for funding has been rejected.

Brenda, who wants to create three new surgeries for an extra 6,000 NHS patients, said the whole situation has proved a nightmare.

And equally upset are her local councillors and hundreds of patients - many of whom are on her waiting list and desperate for treatment.

She said: "I just don't know what else I can do to convince the government that we need these surgeries. I've got pages and pages of names on my waiting list and every day I get queries from people desperate for treatment.

"This is not an affluent area and people are desperate for NHS treatment - they deserve NHS treatment.

"I challenge Tony Blair to put some money where our mouths need it. This is a desperately unfair situation."

Martyn Rogers, dental services commissioning manager for Bournemouth Teaching Primary Care Trust, said the main reason given by the Department of Health for not approving the project was the significant levels of growth funding already given to the PCT.

He said: "We are obviously disappointed with the outcome but are confident that any resident of Kinson or surrounding areas can now register with an NHS dentist due to other successful projects commissioned by the PCT.

"Anyone wanting help in finding an NHS dentist in Bournemouth should contact NHS Direct in the first instance on 0845 4647 or the Dorset Dental Helpline on 01202 854443."

But Kinson North councillor Stephen Starr said the fight would continue: "We're running a petition to make the Department of Health realise that we need these services. Brenda is a hard-working local dentist who deserves all the support she can get."

First published: September 7