Cupar News : "PETITION LAUNCHED OVER LOSS OF DENTAL SERVICES
PEOPLE in Kinross have set up a group to challenge the loss of NHS dental services in the area.
Felicity Garvie from Scotlandwell, who has helped set up Save NHS Dentistry Kinross, said locals felt they had no other choice when one of two NHS practices in the area announced it was to reduce its lists.
The group has launched a petition for NHS dental services in Kinross to be improved and has already secured over 800 signatures and support from MSPs, councillors and Kinross Community Council.
'I received a letter at the start of the year informing me that my dentist was reducing her lists and that I would have to go on Denplan if I wanted to get back on her list,' said Ms Garvie.
'My family and I have been patients for about 10 years, but there are older people who have been there for over 30 years.'
However, Ms Garvie said that many patients cannot afford to go with Denplan, which requires that patients pay a monthly subscription for dental services.
'The signals show that this is the beginning of the privatisation of the NHS,' she said.
'There are a lot of people on low incomes who simply cannot afford to pay for this kind of treatment.'
Ms Garvie works as a parliamentary assistant for Scottish Socialist Party members Tommy Sheridan and Rosie Kane, whom she said have both raised the issue at the Scottish Parliament.
She said that the group may link-up with similar organisations across Scotland to convince the Scottish Executive to take statutory measures to ensure that graduates from dental schools have to work in the NHS for a period.
'It's clear that there is a desire by local people to do something about this,' she said.
'We know that people are leaving the NHS, but we are not going to sit back and let this happen.'
Morag Curnow, clinical dental director, NHS Tayside, said that as far as she was aware the practise would not be taking on any more NHS patients, but has not withdrawn from the NHS.
Dr Curnow added that a new NHS practise is due to open in Dundee early next year, which unregistered NHS patients from Kinross would be able to seek regular treatment from and that there are plans for a similar practise in Perth.
'At the moment we are in the process of building new premises for NHS dentists, who will be employed solely for NHS patients,' she said.
'We want a surgery to be used five days a week and we have to make sure that we use best practise with our resources and Perth is the best location available.'
