CORNWALL'S LAST OPEN DENTAL LIST CONSIDERS CLOSING ITS BOOKS (Julia Goldsworthy)

Julia Goldsworthy <info@juliagoldsworthy.org>

CORNWALL'S LAST OPEN DENTAL LIST CONSIDERS CLOSING ITS BOOKS

June 2, 2009 12:00 PM

The only dental practice is Cornwall currently accepting new patients is facing the prospect of closing its list, if funding cannot be found to safeguard their current staffing levels.

Mylor Dental Practice has recently recruited 750 new NHS patients, but if funds are not made available to support the third dentist that they took on last year, then patients could face losing their access to NHS dental services.

Local MP Julia Goldsworthy met with staff at the practice last week to discuss their concerns, and has promised to take the matter up with the local Primary Care Trust and Government Ministers.

Commenting, Julia said:

"Whilst there has been some progress in increasing NHS dental provision in Cornwall, there is still massive unmet demand - with 50% of residents still without access to routine NHS dentistry.

"The fact that the only NHS practice in Cornwall is considering closing its books to new patients is clear example of how the new dental contract is failing patients. Whilst the Primary Care Trust must ensure that their resources are spread fairly across Cornwall, it's time that Government Ministers faced up to the fact that the new contract simply isn't fit for purpose."