A RETIRING Pembrokeshire dentist has spoken out about the crisis facing the service in the county.

Anthony Miles, aged 59, of Neyland Dental Surgery at 27 High Street, will be closing his doors to the public for the last time at the end of March, after 35 years service.

He said: "I've always planned to retire before 60 and sell my practice on, but with the current dental situation I may not be able to and I'm worried what will happen to the four staff who have served me loyally for years and the 2,200 patients on my books."

Having seen the many changes in his profession, Mr Miles blames Whitehall for the dearth of dentists. "Around 15 years ago some Government official thought we would end up with a surplus of dentists, with no one to treat, so they cut back on the number of training centres , he said: "The effects of this decision are only just being felt now, when older dentists have started to retire and die off. I think the Government now accepts that more students are needed, but as they take six years to qualify it will be a while before the situation is resolved.

"I think the larger cities will feel the benefit of this first, as young people seem reluctant - despite financial incentives - to leave the busy towns where they have trained and made friends. Currently, I have had no response to my ads in which I have tried to promote Pembrokeshire life in general."

Mr Miles says that stopgap measures, like recruiting from abroad and emergency access facilities, may be the only way to provide dental care to the county in the coming years.

AS one of the few dentists who did not move across to private practice, Mr Miles' departure from the dental world will be deeply felt. Pembrokeshire-born, he attended Haverfordwest Grammar School and started his dental career in Fishguard,where he worked for five years.

From there, he moved to Wiltshire before starting his current practice in Neyland 14 years ago.