DENTISTS in South Lakeland and Eden could face financial penalties because they have not delivered on their NHS contracts.

Research carried out under the Freedom of Information Act, a year after the controversial new General Dental Service Contracts were introduced, has found almost 71 per cent of the county's dental surgeons are missing their targets.

And according to private dental plan administrator DPAS, which compiled the figures, the number of dentists under-delivering by more than 25 per cent is almost double the national average.

Now Cumbria Primary Care Trust, which commissions dental services, is considering clawing-back some of the money it paid out to practices which have not completed sufficient work.

For the full story, get the Gazette (November 23, 2007)