A disabled woman has been kicked off her dentist's books after missing one appointment in 40 years.

Christine Chapman, 50, was told she was no longer welcome as an NHS patient at the Old Manor Surgery, Rustington, after ringing late to book her annual appointment.

She said: "After nearly 40 years with my dental practice I have been unceremoniously thrown out of the National Health list.

"There was no reminder from the surgery to say my check-up was due so for being three weeks late in 40 years I am out. I find this extremely unjust."

Mrs Chapman, of Coniston Road, Goring, who runs a home shopping company, was born with a dislocated hip and has had 16 operations.

She said: "Being registered disabled I have had a very close relationship with the NHS throughout my entire life and have watched it go downhill. This is the final straw.

"I find this worrying, not just for me, but for all concerned.

"I am not the only person to find myself in this distressing situation as far as dentists are concerned."

Mrs Chapman complained to the Dental Practice Board, the government body charged with administering dental services, and was given an NHS place at a surgery in Findon, six miles away.

Dentist Nicholas Beirne, of the Old Manor Surgery, said taking her off the books was standard local health authority procedure.

In a statement, he said: "Patients who attend a dentist on the NHS remain registered for 15 months.

"If patients do not attend in the interim period, the local health authority removes the patient's name from the list. We have no control over this matter.

"Due to overwhelming demand, this practice is no longer able to register new patients or re-register patients who have lapsed."