Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Dentists 'turning away patients'
By Nick Triggle
Health reporter, BBC News


Dentists are turning away patients because local health chiefs are running out of funds, dental leaders say.
A new dental contract started last year, but early figures suggest the government overestimated how much money would be taken in patient fees.
NHS trusts have begun to cut their budgets in response and the British Dental Assocation said this has led to some dentists refusing patients care.

A government memo has urged health chiefs to get to grips with the issue.
The memo and many trusts say dentists are treating more exempt patients than expected - children and those on low income do not have to pay for care.

Under the contract, many adult patients make a contribution towards the cost of their treatment.

The Department of Health said trusts should be making £630m from these fees, making up a quarter of their entire dentistry budget.

But health chiefs have now started warning they will not make enough, leading to cuts in budgets.

Health chiefs in Yorkshire, London, Surrey, East Anglia and the Midlands have all reported problems.

This has had two consequences - firstly trusts have not been able to expand services as much as expected and secondly dentists have been denied funds to treat patients.

The contract, which started in April, was designed to expand NHS services amid reports many patients were being forced to pay for treatment privately.
Cambridgeshire - Shortfall predicted to be £2.2m - 25% of what county expected to make in fees. Managers said "significant" problems being reported across country.

YET ANOTHER GOVERNMENT LED MESS UP
THE PCT SINCE IT'S MERGER HAS BEEN IN DEFICIT WITH LITTLE CHANCE OF BALANCING THE BOOKS
UNDER THE CURRENT FUNDING SYSTEM SO.........
CUTS &  SEVERE ONES ARE BEING MADE......