Dentists reassure public over changes (From Gazette Series)

Dentists reassure public over changes

DENTAL surgeries which have been told there will be changes to the way they are paid by the government are warning NHS patients not to worry.

Practices in Wotton-under-Edge and Dursley which currently take NHS patients say they hope to continue doing so under new financial arrangements.

The government has issued new contracts to dentists changing the way it pays them, spreading concern that surgeries will be forced to turn private in order to meet running costs. Some dentists across the region have decided not to sign the contract by the March 31 deadline in fear they will no longer make enough profit to make their practices viable.

Several practices in Wotton and Dursley, however, were eager to reassure their patients this week.

Shaenna Loughnane, practice manager at the Chipping Manor Dental practice in Wotton, said for NHS patients would stay on the books for at least the next 12 months.

She said: "The long-term plan is to stay with the NHS and we will for at least the next year because we have signed the contract but after that we honestly cannot say.

"We felt we are a key part of the community and we want to give something to the people of Wotton and if we were to go private there would be no NHS provision in the area."

Steve Clarke, owner of Archway Dental Practice in Dursley, said the surgery was not about to abandon patients.

He said: "It is going to be difficult for people to find NHS dentists but we are fully committed to the NHS and our patients."

Cam Dental surgery and Castlegate Dental surgery in Dursley also hope to continue treating NHS patients.

Lester Ellman, chairman of the British Dental Association's General Dental Practice Committee, said patients had a right to be concerned.

She said: "Our overall fear is that the new contract will do nothing to improve access to care for patients or improve the quality of care."

Joanna Wynn, spokesman for Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust, was quick to defend the new contracts and to reassure patients.

She said: "The majority of dentists are staying in the NHS and some are offering additional NHS services to the PCT.

"Where dentist capacity is lost by a practice opting out of the NHS, PCTs will have the money released to commission replacement capacity."

Chipping Manor Dental Practice is holding an open meeting for patients in Wotton Town Hall on Tuesday, March 14 (7-9.30pm). A representative from the Cotswold and Vale PCT will be attending.