Millions of Britons could be given the legal right to NHS dental treatment, under new proposals by the government.
Health Secretary Andy Burnham has outlined plans to give patients more rights, including the legal right to quick NHS healthcare and the right to private treatment .
Under the new scheme, patients will be entitled to receive dental treatment by a specialist within 18 weeks upon referral by their dentist or GP, or within two weeks if they have been diagnosed with cancer .
If a patient is unable to receive NHS treatment within the allocated period then staff will have to offer alternative options, such as free private healthcare .
The government believes the measures, which would come into force next April, will help improve access to NHS healthcare for all patients, especially those in more remote parts of the country.
Commenting on the scheme, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "It is part of the move away from a target-led approach that was needed to raise standards and to give more power to patients and frontline staff."
"But now frontline staff who are essential to deliver these reforms are able to be held to account by the general public with the guarantees."
