Lowestoft patients pressure PCT
MORE than 1,600 patients at a Lowestoft dental surgery have signed a petition calling on NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney to allow it to continue providing a 'first class' service.
MORE than 1,600 patients at a Lowestoft dental surgery have signed a petition calling on NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney to allow it to continue providing a 'first class' service.
An on-going dispute between NHS GYW (the local primary care trust) and Dr David Johnson of the High Street Dental Surgery has been referred to an independent adjudicator.
The PCT says it is unable to disclose details of the dispute but, in the meantime, the bidding process for the contract will continue.
Patients at the surgery, which has been operating in the town for more than 30 years, are fully supportive of Dr Johnson and his team.
You may also want to watch:
They have started a petition and are asking all patients to sign it so that they can take it to the Department of Health to ask them to force the PCT to allow Dr Johnson and his existing dentists to continue providing what they describe as a 'first class' dental service.
Mike Holroyd, a patient for more than 30 years, said: 'Who in their right mind would what to destroy something that has been so successful? Whatever the dispute is between Dr Johnson and the PCT, it must be put to one side - a resolution has been put forward which ensures that it is business as usual for thousands of patients.
Most Read
- 1 'Welcome back!' - Glasses raised as popular pub reopens
- 2 Woman scared to leave her house after being closely followed by man
- 3 Boy attacked by man in woodland in Lowestoft
- 4 Woman punched on the ground after walking crutch was kicked away
- 5 Emergency works cause early morning traffic chaos on A47
- 6 Duo left shaken after youths threw stones and jumped on parked car
- 7 'A real buzz' hits Lowestoft as lockdown rules ease
- 8 'Lucky number seven' - Landlord opens 'flagship' pub in hometown
- 9 Pub and restaurant group 'looking forward' to re-opening popular venues
- 10 'Innovative' new street light sparks interest on the coast
'The PCT states that they adopt world- class commissioning, but where is common sense and patient's wishes? Or is it about a cost-cutting exercise? If they want to save money, stop wasting money trying to fix something that isn't broken.'
Mr Holroyd said patients were determined to have their voice heard and would take it to the highest level if needed.
'We ask the PCT to get round the table with Dr Johnson to sort this out without spending huge amounts of money as the general public and patients bitterly object to their approach.'
Interim chief executive of NHS GYW, Paul Zollinger-Read, has written to The Journal to reassure patients.
'I would like to reassure the community that whatever the outcome of the bidding process, all patients currently on Dr Johnson's list of dental practitioners will continue to be able to receive NHS dental care locally. There will be no loss of provision of NHS dental services in the Lowestoft area.'
Mr Zollinger-Read said there were seven other NHS dental practices in Lowestoft and Oulton Broad providing general dental services, and five of these are currently taking on new patients.
Patients wishing to make their views known should contact Elaine Bond at elainebond@nhs.uk copying it to the CEO paulzollinger-read@nhs.net and the complaints manager alande-thabrew@nhs.net heading it up as 'complaint'.
To see Mr Zollinger-Read's letter and other letters on the subject see this week's Postbox on pages 28 and 37.