Kick In The Teeth
October 5, 2004 5:27 PM
NHS dentists are becoming a thing of the past in South West Surrey.
This is the finding from a survey carried out by Liberal Democrat campaigner Simon Cordon.
In the last five years 30% of people trying to find a NHS dentist in the area have been turned away. It is thought that the situation is now even worse.
Simon Cordon's survey also found that 28% of people previously registered with an NHS dentist now find themselves with charges or have had to accept a switch to becoming a private patient.
In a separate questionnaire to dentists in the South West Surrey constituency, Simon discovered that 75% will not even consider taking adult NHS patients. "Funding is the reason given. The Government assumes costs are identical throughout the Country. It does not recognise the higher costs in the South East", he said.
"Setting costs and charges at the centre is not working. This is why the Liberal Democrats want the Government to stop their 'we know best attitude' and let local people make our own decisions about the NHS priorities for our area", said Simon.
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