A mum has told of her anger after being dropped from her NHS dentist's list after more than 62 years.
Wendy Winter, from Stockport, said she feels 'betrayed' after receiving a letter from Roe Lane dental surgery informing her it would be reducing its NHS commitments.
The mum-of-three was told she had been placed on a waiting list and the surgery would instead provide alternative private options for treatment, Liverpool Echo reported.
After going to the same dentists for the last 62 years, Wendy said the news came like a "bolt out of the blue".
She said: "On Monday morning I thought if I phoned up first thing and explained I had been going for 62 years I thought they would keep people on who have been there all that time.
"When I phoned up at nine o'clock on Monday and I got through I said I wanted to remain on the NHS services and was told those posts were filled last week.
"I was told I could be put on a waiting list for NHS services and I could not believe it, I've been going there since 1960.
"The receptionist said they could not keep the oldest patients on as that would be discriminatory and it was first come first serve."
Wendy said she was not notified at the same time as other patients and now her husband and two of her children have been put on the waiting list.
Wendy said: "I feel as if my loyalty and bringing my family to them has meant absolutely nothing. They want us to go down this private route and I feel betrayed."
She continued: "You're just a number and you feel like dirt beneath their feet.
"I've never missed an appointment I've always had the NHS treatment and now suddenly they want more money off us.
"Their basic plan which is what they are pushing people into it is £185 per year for one person and that is just the standard package."
Wendy's dentist is now offering a pay-as-you-go service which will cost £39 an appointment and her son, who is disabled, will no longer receive NHS treatment.
Wendy said: "My gas and electric have gone up from £149 a month to £264, my husband is retired and his pension has not gone up as much as it should and I've just had a £3,500 pay cut.
"Seriously this could be the straw that broke the camel's back. It feels like a kick in the teeth."
A spokesperson for My Dentist said: “I want to reassure patients that NHS dental care will continue at our practice on Roe Lane in Southport.
"One of our clinicians is reducing the volume of NHS work they undertake, but patients will still be able to access NHS care from our wider team of dentists.”
