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PCT forces a surgery to close
17th May 2006
| A dentist is to say goodbye to hundreds of NHS patients because there is no longer funding for his practice. Dr Jaideep Prashar has 1,200 NHS patients at his clinic in Hampstead, north London, which opened in November. He claimed he was a victim of the government's new dentists' contracts, which were signed last week. The local Camden Primary Care Trust (PCT) said Dr Prashar opened his practice without discussing funding. Under the new contracts, dentists will get an income based on the previous three years' earnings. As Dr Prashar's practice opened just five months ago, this will not be enough to finance his NHS patients. Dr Prashar said the PCT has suggested he carry out private treatment but he wanted to remain in the NHS, where he has worked for the last 16 years. He said: 'Two colleagues and I (three UK qualified dentists) are happy to carry on doing dental work in the heart of Hampstead, where there is a shortage of NHS dentistry. 'Camden PCT told me there is no funding in the pot. I'm not blaming them as such, as their hands may be tied by central government.' In a statement, Camden PCT denied telling Dr Prashar to go private, adding: 'The practice opened without discussions with us regarding the availability of NHS funding. 'In discussions with the practice, we explained that there may be some funding available for NHS activity. 'We have advised Dr Prashar that under the new contract we can redistribute money to practices from any dentists who stop providing NHS services.' Dr Prashar said he had written to the Department of Health and his local MP Glenda Jackson. |
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Posted by andymos9@hotmail.com
22/5/06
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