Patients' groups fear for children's dental health

Queen Street Dental Practice in Penzance blames the government's new contract for NHS dentistry, which it says is unworkable.

The practice said the contract, due to start in April, was too restrictive and did not pay a fair rate.

Patients' groups have expressed their concerns for children's health. The local NHS said clinics were still offering emergency care.

Spare capacity

The practice had treated children on the NHS while treating adults privately.

Paul and Mary Pocock, from Penzance, were told they would have to pay the practice �250 for each of their three children, which the family could not afford.

However, Mr Pocock said there were no other NHS places available.

He said: "I got told by the NHS there is no dentist in the county taking on kids, so mine and loads of others in Penzance are going to have to go without NHS treatment."

BBC South West Health Correspondent Sally Mountjoy said: "The local NHS admitted there were no practices with spare capacity which could take them.

"But it said there were clinics where they could get emergency care."

Patients' groups said they still feared for children's dental health.

Dr Helen Andrew of the West Cornwall Patients' Forum said: "This, I predict, will result in a generation of children growing up with gaps in their mouths, undetected cancers, gum disease and diabetes which may go undetected."

Preventative measures

From April, instead of being paid for each NHS treatment they carry out, dentists will be given a guaranteed income based on their historical income.

But some dentists say that under the plans, they would not be able to spend time addressing preventative measures.

Dentists representatives in the South West said more and more would refuse to do NHS dental work as a result.