Many items discussed at this meeting included the following:
Southport CARES
for children
Sefton Primary Care Trust (PCT) ‘Your Say on NHS Dental
Care’ meeting
Friday 9th March at Ainsdale Centre for Health and Wellbeing, 1.30pm-2.30pm
CARES report by Co-chair, Cath Regan.
Many items discussed at this meeting included the following:
• What are the best choices for the population regarding dental treatment?
• In an emergency would people be prepared to see any dentist – people said they
would.
• It was agreed that patterns of dental treatment have changed, not everyone who
used to now attend every 6 months.
• Representatives acting for the PCT stated that the PCT may not have the
funding and capacity for all dental requirements.
• Members of the public attending this meeting generally concurred that dentists
should be like the GPs and accessible for all; not just for the vulnerable in
society,
• Some people agreed they would travel for emergency treatment if they had to,
while others asked why should we have to?
Three suggestions given by the PCT speaker indicated that the PCT may be
thinking of instigating certain future objectives, which may prove unpopular
with the populace. .This speaker asked members of the public, and we quote – “If
you had a fairy godmother who could grant you one wish what would your wish be”.
She went to give three stark choices between the three main principles of (1)
emergency treatment, (2) one more dentist to provide routine care and (3)
prevention as for instance working within nurseries, schools with children;
because there may not be enough money to fund all what would we choose?
The public’s answers were varied which they would be. Why should residents have
to choose between services at the point of need that should already be safely in
place? What are the bewildered health authorities actually playing at?
It was decided by the people attending that our dental treatment should stay
local for both emergency and routine care.
Apparently the new NHS dental practice is being currently set up at 12 Church
St, Southport; it will have four dentists and, according to Angela Parkinson who
was representing the PCT, it should be ready in a matter of weeks.
My own feelings on this meeting were ones of anger and confusion.
If the new NHS dental practice is almost up and running then why are we now
having consultations on what services to lose if funding is short?
These consultations are stating that they are to ’improve the NHS dentistry.’
Why then are we being asked which services we want to lose first? These proposed
‘choices’ are for our population in reality – NO CHOICES AT ALL!
The public need to start carefully watching this vital issue for it affects us
all. Apathy is therefore not a feasible option in this instance.
Is poor old Southport being short-changed by the largely belligerent grey suits
in our health authorities once again?
Sefton Primary Care Trust (PCT) ‘Your Say on NHS Dental
Care’ meeting
Friday 9th March at 5 Curzon Road, Southport, 10.30am-11.30am
CARES report by member Margaret Brown.
This was the first of the two meetings to be held in Southport. The same PCT
representatives were present. The meeting was well attended and we had to be
divided into two groups for ease of management, we were, however, joined
together for a final session to see what ground each group had covered.
Each PCT representative put these scenarios before us as they did to the second
group in the afternoon
• What are the best choices for the population regarding dental treatment?
• In an emergency would people be prepared to see any dentist – people said they
would.
• It was agreed that patterns of dental treatment have changed, not everyone who
used to now attend every 6 months.
• Representatives acting for the PCT stated that the PCT may not have the
funding and capacity for all dental requirements.
• Members of the public attending this meeting generally concurred that dentists
should be like the GPs and accessible for all; not just for the vulnerable in
society,
• Some people agreed they would travel for emergency treatment if they had to,
while others asked why should we have to?
Three suggestions given by the PCT speaker indicated that the PCT may be
thinking of instigating certain future objectives, which may prove unpopular
with the populace. .This speaker asked members of the public, and we quote – “If
you had a fairy godmother who could grant you one wish what would your wish be”.
She went to give three stark choices between the three main principles of (1)
emergency treatment, (2) one more dentist to provide routine care and (3)
prevention as for instance working within nurseries, schools with children;
because there may not be enough money to fund all what would we choose? (4)
Several said they would wish just to have a dentist.
Acting as ‘devils advocate’ the question put to us was that with the small pot
of money the PCT had at their disposal “Should the money the PCT had be spent
in the south of the borough or in Southport?”
In the south of the borough there was a need due to poor dental health and the
money could be spent on preventative care, or spent in Southport where there has
been until privatisation of dental care a history of attendance for check-ups on
a regular basis. Whilst it was stated that many would be altruistic and vote for
preventative care it was agreed that where the take-up in the north (Southport)
would be greater this is where the money should be spent.
It was also pointed out to the PCT representative that the 80% charge system
made it almost impossible for those on low incomes and pensioners with incomes
just above the rate that made them eligible for benefits to attend for dental
treatment let alone travel adding to the expense, those on benefits would attend
with no charge.
One group suggested that a new dental practice could be set up at one of the
large supermarkets in Southport as two were open 24hrs and there was good
parking.
During the afternoon session it was established that indeed there
was to be a new practice to be set up in Southport at the Church Street Centre.
I like Cath felt annoyed as we already knew about the additional practice and
these ‘focus groups’ were being used as ‘consultative’ bodies to a deal that had
already been decided.
Ends