Things can only get better? (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Things can only get better?

9:27am Saturday 3rd February 2007

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At a recent health meeting I sat through a talk by managers from the local primary care trust about the state of NHS dentistry.

Things will get better they assured.

This occurred just a day or so after I had taken my three-year-old son Charlie for his first ever check up at our local dentist.

It was a trip which we had prepared well for. Books had been read on the subject and the role of a dentist had been discussed.

Charlie will solemnly tell me how his teeth will fall out if he eats too much chocolate and along with his two-year-old sister, has been regularly wrestled to the ground, to have his teeth well and truly scrubbed twice a day.

Having done my bit, I expected (rather foolishly as it turned out) for my local NHS dentist to do his bit.
We arrived at the dental practice at the prescribed time and even though we had to wait more than a hour to be seen, Charlie saw the visit as something of a treat and one he is keen to repeat (he also weirdly enjoys going to the hairdressers).

When he was eventually asked to climb into the big chair and open wide he did as he was asked - with a bit of 'roar like a dinosaur' encouragement from me.
I swelled with parental pride at a job well done when the dentist declared his beautiful, white teeth, to be in tip top condition.

Great stuff - I'll go and book for his six month check-up I thought. This was the point the crisis in NHS dentistry finally caught up with me after writing about the plight of others for the last few years.

I couldn't book another appointment as the dentist had declared his intention to no longer carryout NHS work.
The receptionist informed me, if I decided to pay to be a private patient, it was quite possible they would retain Charlie as an NHS patient.

That's not really a choice is it? I was proud to be a filling-free zone until the age of 35 and I hope my children can achieve the same .

Of course, I will pay to be a private patient if it means my children will have access to a dentist. I'm not awash with money by any means but the cash will be found.

Others in Bradford are not so lucky. Is it any wonder children under the age of five living in Bradford have the second worst tooth decay in the country - topped only by our near neighbours North Kirklees?

Simply handing out free toothbrushes - although to be welcomed - isn't enough. Every single person no matter what their age should be able to access a NHS dentist when they need it.

When I informed one of the PCT dental managers of my plight after the meeting he said dentists weren't 'allowed' to do this to people. Another one chipped in 'but yes it is happening, I've heard the same story from others.'.

Most parents will move heaven and earth for their children, but if the money isn't there to pay for dental care, it isn't there.

Why should these children miss out?

Why are dentists allowed to take tax-payers money to train to do this lucrative job, only to turn their backs on the NHS at the first opportunity?

Just wondered.