Dental patient told ‘wait a year’ after surgery closes

Oct 27 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

A PATIENT left without care after a dentist was forced to retire was told to wait a year for an appointment, according to Conservatives in Wirral.

The claim was made as the Greasby surgery at the centre of the controversy finally closed its doors.

Dentist Clive Morgan said the new dental contract had left him no option but to close his practice which had 2,500 patients.

He said he was forced to retire because of a £20,000 “clawback” for not meeting the terms of his contract to provide NHS dental care.

Last week, Wirral Primary Care Trust assured patients a new dental surgery in Greasby would be up and running in the New Year, and offered to help those of Mr Morgan’s patients needing care in the interim to find alternative dentists.

But last night prospective Conservative candidate for West Wirral Esther McVey, who has taken up the campaign to help people in the area, said there were more questions than answers about how dental care would be provided for Mr Morgan’s former patients.

She said: “I have met all the dentists on the west side of Wirral and they told me there would be a big problem with these contracts, and this will have a dramatic effect on dental care.”

Susan O’Neil, a Greasby resident, said she and many others she had spoken to were “just waiting for another dentist in Greasby”.

She said: “A few people I know have rung around local practices but have not had any joy so far.”

Miss O’Neil said the PCT had advised her to go to a dentist in Bromborough but because she does not have transport felt this was not a viable option.

Wendy Clements, another Greasby resident, who has been with Mr Morgan’s practice since 1990, said: “The PCT suggested I went to a dentist in Heswall, which seems a long way to go. They said a lot of other dentists had closed their lists.”

Last night the chief executive of the British Dental Association, Peter Ward, said the situation was “shocking”.

Mr Ward said he had direct personal knowledge of what was happening, having started his dental career with Clive Morgan in Greasby in 1982.

He praised Mr Morgan for his commitment and ability and said his plight was “a dreadful indictment” of the NHS contracts.

In a statement, the PCT said: “Currently, we have 29 contracts who are open to accepting new NHS patients. Specifically, we have four in the West Wirral area who are open at the moment. In the Moreton, Upton, and Prenton areas, 10 are open to accepting new NHS patients.

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

liammurphy