A HOUSEBOUND Silsden pensioner faces a bill of nearly £600 for a new set of dentures.

Thomas Bridge, 85, is partially sighted and disabled.

He needed a new set of dentures, so nephew George Bridge booked a house visit from his own private dentist, Dermot Fell.

Mr Fell visited Mr Bridge, checked his teeth and took away his old dentures to make an impression.

Mr Bridge says these were returned by recorded delivery, within a fortnight. But also in the package was a £76 bill for the visit.

Mr Bridge has also been charged £500 for a new set of dentures.

"I think this is absolute exploitation," he says.

Mr Fell is based at Earl Royd Dental Practice, on Skipton Road, Keighley, which displays a sign, 'NHS Welcome.'

But dentists themselves can choose whether they treat NHS patients.

Mr Fell only treats private patients and says Mr Bridge was aware of that.

He adds: "The £76 is for my time and the time taken to get there. Mr Bridge had an estimate posted to him.

"When the nephew first contacted us, it was pointed out it would be a private arrangement."

The Keighley News investigated local dentists' denture prices for private consulsatations.

Silsden-based Harkers says NHS patients pay 80 per cent of the cost - around £120 for a full set. But for private patients they charge around £300.

Foreshaw' s Dental Practice, on Devonshire Street, Keighley, says it is up to the dentist.

At Keighley's Cavendish Street practice P Benson, private patients would pay £360 for a full set.

Sowter and Bennett, on Devonshire Street, charge between £350 and £500, depending on the dentist and type of denture.

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