Angry scenes as Copmanthorpe villagers told to re-register for NHS dental places (From York Press)
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Angry scenes as Copmanthorpe villagers told to re-register for NHS dental places
9:40am Wednesday 4th August 2010 in News
There was confusion in Copmanthorpe over NHS spaces at the surgery of dentist Kris Leeson
PATIENTS of a dentist who were told they had to re-register for a limited number of NHS places caused angry scenes outside a surgery in a York community.
The practice, in St Giles Way, Copmanthorpe, had intended last Saturday to be a showcase for the recently extended facilities following a six-week refurbishment by new owners.
However, after receiving letters informing them the practice now only had 600 NHS spaces, many patients of Copmanthorpe Dental Centre, thought the open day was a chance to register for a place.
One patient, who asked not to be named, said: “We went on Saturday, early, and found a short queue of people being told that the 600 places had all been filled, and had been filled by well over a week by then, by people who had phoned in.
“By the time we left, there were probably 50 to 100 irate people queuing down the street who had also thought they were going to register or find out how to register as an NHS patient there. “There were lots of very angry people. I felt slightly sorry for the staff, but then the letter they sent was so utterly ambiguous, that they brought it on themselves.
“The worst bit is most of the previous patients there had been patients for 20-plus years like my family – so there is a lot of bad feeling that they’ve suddenly been kicked out of the practice.”
The new owner of the facility, dentist Kris Leeson, also owns surgeries in Bishopthorpe and Woodthorpe and has expanded the number of treatment rooms at Copmanthorpe from one to three.
He said he could not say how many NHS patients were previously registered at Copmanthorpe, but said he could only treat 600 NHS patients due to Government funding and was not just “dumping patients”.
He said: “We don’t have enough funding to keep all patients on with the National Health Service. So we wrote to all our patients telling them we could see 600 adults and all children.
“The first paragraph said we would like to welcome people to a new-look surgery and we are having an open day on July 31.”
The next paragraph detailed that due to a lack of funding the practice would only be able to see the first 600 patients to come forward.
Mr Leeson said: “We should have said that the open day was not the time to sign up – but that’s hindsight.
“It could have been done a bit better, but it would have still affected people.”
Comments(18)
AdmiralNN
says...
9:57am Wed 4 Aug 10
'
My very last appointment with them i timed on a stopwatch on my phone and the from time i sat on the chair to the time i left his office was less than three minutes.
'
says it all really.
'
Ive since gone private but appreciate that this option is not available for everyone. It really needs sorting out.
again
says...
10:08am Wed 4 Aug 10
Theendoftheworld
says...
10:39am Wed 4 Aug 10
taken for a mug
says...
10:41am Wed 4 Aug 10
Why is it that new places that become available don't go straight away to those on the list? but instead go on a first come first served basis direct with the practice?
York Fox
says...
11:35am Wed 4 Aug 10
hifive
says...
11:46am Wed 4 Aug 10
Theendoftheworld
says...
12:05pm Wed 4 Aug 10
hifive
says...
12:13pm Wed 4 Aug 10
Theendoftheworld wrote:Eek! I hate the dentist as it is!
The Hull Road surgery is also on the emergency list. I hope hifive has better treatment there than my father-in-law-did.
Pedro
says...
12:13pm Wed 4 Aug 10
York Fox
says...
12:34pm Wed 4 Aug 10
hifive wrote:I was on that list once for years and missed out because I was on holiday when the time came and missed the call. I have since been on it for over a year and not heard a peep from them.
I really don't understand. I put myself on a list through NHS Direct. It was a list for first available place at a dentist in the area. After 8 months, I got a phone call saying I had a place at Hull Road if I wanted it. Obviously I jumped at the chance. Can't people just do it this way? I know it's obviously more convenient to wait for a place at the nearest, but as others have said you could be waiting years! Hull Road isn't particularly close to where I live, but I seldom go so it's worth the minor inconvenience just to actually be given a place!
King Edward
says...
12:39pm Wed 4 Aug 10
SJyork
says...
1:30pm Wed 4 Aug 10
hifive wrote:That's your experience but I know people personally who have been on a waiting list in the Hull Road area for years! We found out that one of our friends got a place with the same NHS dentist only a couple of months after moving to York (recently) and yet my partner is STILL on the list. It seems like they just select people randomly regardless of how long they've been waiting.
I really don't understand. I put myself on a list through NHS Direct. It was a list for first available place at a dentist in the area. After 8 months, I got a phone call saying I had a place at Hull Road if I wanted it. Obviously I jumped at the chance. Can't people just do it this way? I know it's obviously more convenient to wait for a place at the nearest, but as others have said you could be waiting years! Hull Road isn't particularly close to where I live, but I seldom go so it's worth the minor inconvenience just to actually be given a place!
My own dentist (private) in Wigginton said he had no choice to go private due to financial reasons. Yet he now he has gone private he appears to work a two day week and getting an appointment is near impossible!
JOHNYBOY
says...
1:54pm Wed 4 Aug 10
Ive never seen a poor dentist yet!! Most earn 6 salaries - so this chappy with 3 practices what must this greedy self centred dentist be coining in!!!
Bout time governments sorted dentists and doctors out - theyve become elite, arrogant and selfish people - earning very nicely thanks to the tax payer!!
York Fox
says...
2:30pm Wed 4 Aug 10
JOHNYBOY wrote:Quite right Johny and SJYork, stating "financial reasons" is ridiculous. What he means is there is much more money to be made in private patients, so he will only treat them. It's his choice and his greed that dictated this change. Something needs to be done and soon.
So hes expanded the practice but is seeing fewer NHS - not employing any more dentists - just doing less work so why expand if he now has fewer registered clients? doesnt add up. Ive never seen a poor dentist yet!! Most earn 6 salaries - so this chappy with 3 practices what must this greedy self centred dentist be coining in!!! Bout time governments sorted dentists and doctors out - theyve become elite, arrogant and selfish people - earning very nicely thanks to the tax payer!!
Ben Guela
says...
4:49pm Wed 4 Aug 10
AdmiralNN wrote:Our views for the Clock House dental practise is different.
Years ago i managed to get a place at clock house dental after about 9 months on the waiting list. Luckily i didnt have any major problems while i was with them but i had about 5 appointments with them in all. You dont get an appointment letter every 6 months more like 9 and then when you ring to make said appointment there arent any available for about two months, so the gap between appointments is closer to a year. ' My very last appointment with them i timed on a stopwatch on my phone and the from time i sat on the chair to the time i left his office was less than three minutes. ' says it all really. ' Ive since gone private but appreciate that this option is not available for everyone. It really needs sorting out.
We have been going there for years, and all of the staff are great, and our dentist is brilliant in every respect.
That dentist in Copmanthorpe who has moved on was awful!
Cost Accountant
says...
11:27pm Wed 4 Aug 10
They weren't very good dentist anyway not like the previous one, a bit heavy handed.
Their private scheme was more expensive than most other private scheme's insurance cover.
Went with the NHS ADP at Clifton Moor and have been very satisfied with them ever since.
Make an appointment for six months in advance for a check up which works fine but if there has been any urgent treatment required have got an appointment either that day or the next.
Cost Accountant
says...
11:27pm Wed 4 Aug 10
They weren't very good dentist anyway not like the previous one, a bit heavy handed.
Their private scheme was more expensive than most other private scheme's insurance cover.
Went with the NHS ADP at Clifton Moor and have been very satisfied with them ever since.
Make an appointment for six months in advance for a check up which works fine but if there has been any urgent treatment required have got an appointment either that day or the next.
Princess Fluffy says...
9:45am Wed 4 Aug 10