ROCHDALE is officially closed to new patients wanting NHS dental treatment.
Those not registered with a dentist, or who cannot afford to go private, are being advised to travel eight miles to Bury or Prestwich for their nearest NHS surgery.
The town was thrown into crisis when one of its biggest practices, Balderstone Dental Surgery, on Balderstone Road, announced it will turn private in April, meaning thousands of their patients will have to pay the new rates or try to register elsewhere.
John Harvey, who lives just 100 yards from the practice, has been registered with them for 30 years. The Parkinson's sufferer now faces either paying or an eight-mile trip to the nearest NHS surgery.
He said: "It's scandalous that on disability benefit I either have to pay or travel such a distance. In a town of 140,000 people there is not a dentist to register with anywhere.
"I don't know what I'm going to do, but I suppose I'll have to make a decision soon or all of the private places will be taken up."
Rochdale's MP Paul Rowen said: " To see the final registering NHS practice convert to a private practice should shame this Labour government."
Reason
John Booth, a dentist at the practice, said: "The reason for the move is simple - too many patients and not enough time to treat them.
"Each dentist is expected to see between 40 and 50 each day and we simply cannot do it and care for them properly. If we take more time, the waiting lists get longer."
Despite the costs of up to £144 to remain on the books and £35 for a check-up, the surgery has been flooded with calls from people desperate to register.
By the end of last week more than 1,000 were expected to be signed up to the private clinic.
Ian Mello Baron, associate director of primary care for Rochdale Primary Care Trust, said: "The funding which was allocated to this practice will now give the PCT an opportunity to consider how best this funding can be used in the interests of patients.
"This would not have been possible under the `old' contract. The PCT has only recently become aware of this, but will be having early discussions about how to use the funding in the most appropriate way to the benefit of all residents of Rochdale."
What should be done to tackle our dentist crisis? Have your say.
Tweet
Ann Patrcia, MOSTON M40 (09/01/2006 at 17:57)
I like many many other people could not possibley afford to pay the private fee's.and would very much like to learn the truth of all this.
why one can not re-register with a dentist on the NHS.
Or is it just a case of dentist only wish to treat private patients because they can charge what ever fee's they want and therefor make More Money.
I have yet to see A POOR DENTIST!