Scramble for dentists as practice quits NHS
Last updated 13:33, Thursday, 14 August 2008
OVER 3,000 people in Corbridge are now searching for a new dentist after their practice announced plans to withdraw from the NHS.
Not only is the Beech Cottage Dental Practice on Hill Street going private, but it is axing the number of patients on its books.
It is reducing its list from 6,000 to 2,700.
Patients have already begun snapping up the new private insurance plan on offer, said practice manager Paul Elliott.
“But my concern is that we might be over-subscribed,” he said.
The move followed much soul-searching by his wife Patricia, who is the practice’s principal dentist.
An NHS dentist for 31 years – 23 of which have been spent in Corbridge – she feels the controversial NHS dental contract introduced two years ago is unworkable.
Then, the so-called ‘drill and fill’ system of piecework payments for dentists was replaced by salaried contracts with primary care trusts.
Part of the biggest shake-up of the NHS dental service since 1948, the new contract was meant to allow dentists more time to spend on oral hygiene and preventative treatment.
But far from it, they say.
In fact, the number of points dentists must accumulate before they are paid is difficult to achieve when providing that type of low-scoring treatment.
“It was a big, big decision for Patricia to make,” said Mr Elliott.
“But when she could only see a diminution of services, she felt she had to do something to maintain standards.
“Under the NHS contract you have to get patients in and out as quickly as possible. Now we want to restore the relationship we had with patients prior to the contract.”
Beech Cottage will switch to a private service backed by dental insurance company Denplan on November 1.
Healthcare service commissioners Northumberland Care Trust refused its request to carry on treating children and those exempt from charges on the NHS.
Patients’ payments under Denplan will be determined by their past levels of treatment, and range from £9.95 to £26 a month.
The practice will treat children up to the age of eight for free, and then charge £6 a month until they are 18.
“Our dentists prefer to think about caring for patients, providing high quality treatment with time for preventive advice and education,” said Mr Elliott.
“Denplan will allow us to continue to provide the high quality care our patients expect and deserve, whilst still delivering value for your money.”
Northumberland Care Trust said this week it was preparing the fill the NHS gap in Corbridge.
It was seeking applications from existing dental practices or new dentists to help provide £300,000 worth of NHS treatment for the Corbridge area.
The trust’s head of dentistry, Jeff Goldthorpe, said: “Patients have told us they are concerned about access to NHS dentistry, and as a result we want to act quickly.
“As dentists are independent businesses they can choose if they want to work for the NHS.
“However, I would like to reassure local people that they will be able to continue to access an NHS dentist in Corbridge.”
Residents are being advised to ring (0191) 217 2765 for information on how to access a new NHS dentist.
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