A NEW NHS dentist should be operating at Ilkley's Coronation Hospital by the end of the year, health bosses have promised. The Labour MP for Ilkley has welcomed the move which is planned as a temporary stop-gap measure until a permanent home for the surgery is found.

A spokesperson for Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) said: "Bradford and Airedale PCT is investing an extra £1.5 million to improve access to NHS dentistry and three new dental practices in Ilkley, Keighley and Bradford are currently being commissioned.

"These will provide on-going preventative dental care to up to 20,000 patients. We expect the tendering process to be completed by mid-August, and the new providers to be in place offering care towards the end of 2008. One of these dentists will initially be at the site of Coronation Hospital."