DENTAL bosses have hit back at claims by the Conservative party that a shortage of dentists is leading people in Derbyshire to seek emergency hospital care.

The Conservatives released new figures showing that 457 people in the county were admitted to hospital between April 2007 and March 2008 for emergency dental treatment.

But Keith Mann, head of dentistry at Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust, said a £4m investment in dental services across the county meant access was improving. And in the city, eight practices are accepting NHS patients with plans for three new surgeries to open later this year.

Mr Mann said: "There's always going to be a very small number of people who go to the emergency services because they've got bleeding or have had an accident."

The Conservatives found emergency hospital treatment was given to 160 people in Derby and 297 people living in Derbyshire. But latest figures from the trust show 358,213 people were treated by an NHS dentist in Derbyshire in a two-year period, against a target of 385,986.

Val Winn, head of primary care at the trust, said: "People who are admitted for dental care are people who have been in car accidents or had sports injuries."

The £4m investment will pay for three new practices in Ashbourne, Staveley and Shirebrook, which are set to open in late summer.

The money has also paid for 44 practices across Derbyshire to offer emergency treatment and to take on new patients.

NHS Derby City opened new practices in Mackworth, Sinfin and Alvaston earlier this year. It is now planning to open three more in the city centre, Darley Abbey and Spondon or Chaddesden by November.