RADICAL changes in NHS dental services will hit Petersfield families in the pocket and could leave their children without treatment, it was claimed this week. And there are further fears that people with disabilities will find it hard to get help in a dental emergency when East Hampshire Primary Care Trust reorganises the way it pays for dental services at the end of this month. The stark message came from concerned residents and councillors at a meeting of East Hampshire District Council's central area community committee on Tuesday night. PCT spokesman Natalie Jones had earlier told them they should expect a "short period where services were not stable" from April this year. She told members that of the eight NHS contracts in Petersfield, one dentist had retired due to ill health, two were orthodontic services, one was a temporary contract expiring in July and two were for children and exempt patients only. Two more practices were also "at risk" because they had not confirmed they were taking up the new contract. It leaves Petersfield people facing a lengthy journey to Gosport to visit an NHS dentist. And only Petersfield Hospital remains as a place for people to go with a dental emergency. At the meeting at Penns Place, one resident, Michelle Snow, said her dental practice had recently told her it could no longer treat her family. She said: "I have two children - where is my family supposed to go now?" Another resident questioned the level of emergency service that would be available in the Petersfield area. "So people could go to the A and E or phone an ambulance? What if I cannot get there or I am a disabled person or find it hard to use the phone? What if I have no means of accessing these emergency services?" she said. The changes introduced by the Department of Health mean that dentists will not be able to discriminate against patients due to age, ability to pay or treatment needed. Dentists, Miss Jones told the council, would not be able to register children on condition that their parents register privately and would no longer be able to charge for missed appointments. However, this could result in dentists having to charge for treatment upfront. But the proposals have not been greeted warmly by Petersfield practices, and last year it was announced Lavant Street Dental Health Centre would no longer be treating NHS patients. Councillor Brian Dutton said that low-income families in the town were now in desperate need of treatment. He told the committee: "I don't want to shoot the messenger but she is bringing us some sad news. I cannot hear from you any reassurances that we will get treatment to the poor of this town. We have two areas of deprivation here and people need treatment. Judy Onslow added that there should have been more consultation with the public before the changes were introduced. She said: "There is a huge problem here. And I have a huge problem with what is going on in our health service. Has there been any consultation or has it been decided by a government department? "There are no NHS dentists in this part of the world. Why has there not been any consultation with the public? If we had known about this we would be able to fill this chamber with people that are very angry. "People and patients are not a business. The whole thing seems to be out of control." In a statement after the meeting, the trust said: "Within Petersfield there have historically been eight dental practices treating patients under the NHS. "Current negotiations indicate that approximately half of these services will continue, with two contracts being agreed for orthodontic services, and two contracts being agreed for general dental services. "A further temporary general dental service contract is being agreed to provide continuation of services whilst the PCT endeavours to implement alternative arrangements. "The PCT is working with local dentists to maintain existing services. Once these contracts are confirmed the PCT will be in a position to identify shortfalls in service provision and implement the processes needed to introduce new services. "It is likely that there will be a short period where dental services in and around the Petersfield area are affected by these changes. "During this time urgent treatment, for patients without a regular dentist experiencing acute dental pain, can be accessed via the Dental Access Centre on 01329 233502. "The PCT plans to set up a helpline service to assist patients in accessing NHS dental services, details of which will be published in the near future."
