Health trust vows: We will provide new dental service

Oct 23 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

A WIRRAL town left without dental care after a dentist retired has been promised a new service in the New Year.

Wirral Primary Care Trust has said it is “fully committed” to reinstating a local dental service in Greasby.

Earlier this month, Greasby dentist Clive Morgan, 58, said he must retire early as a result of a £20,000 “clawback” bill from the PCT.

Wirral PCT said a target for “units of dental activity” was not reached by his Greasby Road practice.

His patients found themselves having to look elsewhere for dental provision because the Trust has not allowed him to sell on his contract.

Mr Morgan said, because his practice was on the first floor and could present access problems for the disabled, the PCT would not allow another dentist to operate there.

He said: “This is bad news for the 2,500 people of Greasby.

“It’s been here for 53 years and I have been here for 32 of them.

“I’m sad to go, I’m retiring years before I intended to, but the system is forcing me out.

“I’ve heard they can’t find another dentist to take it, but I doubt that.”

He said he had investigated and there would be no problem selling the practice on to another dentist if the PCT would only allow it.

Wirral PCT declined to comment about any individual dentists.

Under the new national contract, they said there was a level of activity agreed with each practice, for which they received an income, and where this fell short any over-payment for dental work not delivered was recovered.

Last night, a statement issued by the PCT said it is now at “an advanced stage” in setting up an entirely new dental service in the Greasby area.

The Trust said this will “offer more access to NHS care, wider treatment choices and premises which will be accessible for all residents”.

The statement from the Trust said: “Provision of such enhanced services requires extensive planning but our aim is to have services up and running as early as possible in the New Year.

“ In the meantime, we would ask residents to be patient.

“NHS dental services will continue to be available.

“The PCT will provide those with routine dental need with temporary arrangements, while those with an urgent dental problem will be allocated an urgent care appointment.

“The PCT Dental Helpline can offer an update on the situation, advice regarding dental care and allocate you to a dentist for urgent treatment.

“Wirral has more dentists for its population and our dentists were able to see more patients for NHS care in the last year than most areas in England.

“Wirral PCT is committed to ensure access to NHS dental care for our community.”

WIRRAL PCT Dental Helpline: 643 5455

liammurphy