Another NHS dental practice in York closes its doors (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

Another NHS dental practice in York closes its doors

July 7, 2006 12:00 AM

Councillor Sue Galloway has been contacted by local residents who are angered at being left without NHS dental care as yet another practice closes its doors to NHS patients.

The practice, Woodthorpe Dental Centre, sent a letter to all NHS patients which said "the Government imposed a new dental contract in April this year. We have run the new contract for a few months now and it has rapidly become obvious that the new contract will not allow us to maintain the quality of service that you are used to."

Cllr Sue Galloway (Lib Dem Executive Member for Adult Social Services) said "The withdrawal of NHS dental treatment from this practice will be a big blow to a huge number of local residents. I understand that the surgery is struggling with the government's new contract, but I am sad that the only option for residents will now be to pay for treatment.

"The payment options are not cheap - £12 per month could be quite a struggle for many. I am very worried that as more dentists leave the NHS, fewer people will go for regular checkups. Dental check-ups are vital to detect serious diseases such as oral cancer at an early stage.

"The government needs to accept that the new contract is failing. It is time to face up to the dental crisis - there is no point in MPs praising the fact that there are more dentists in training when there is no NHS treatment available to patients. So far as I am aware there are no other NHS dentists taking new patients so residents will have little choice but to pay up. The Government places great emphasis on prevention as a means of early detection of more serious health problems but this flies in the fact of that policy."