Petition targets free dental care

Hundreds of people in Lincolnshire are calling for better provision of free dental care for children.

They say new NHS dental care rules, which come into effect in April, will result in fewer children-only NHS dentists in the county.

But East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust said some dentists may continue to provide children-only NHS treatment.

The rules give more responsibility to primary care trusts, which are drawing up contracts with dental practices.

Under "all-or-nothing" contracts, some dentists will only be able to provide free child dental care if they also provide NHS services to adults and "exempt" patients.

Bad teeth

The details of the contracts will depend on what is agreed between the PCT and the local practices.

Spalding father-of-three Les Newman has started a petition opposing the new rules saying they make it too difficult to find a practice offering free child dental care.

He has collected 400 signatures and is contacting his MP John Hayes about the issue.

I can see in 10 years' time a generation of children with really bad teeth because parents cannot afford dental care. Dentist Theo Butler

"I've taken my youngest child for dental care last week and the dentist told me it would cost £550 after April 1st -and as a single parent I cannot afford to pay

"You need to pay a insurance of about £30 a month - but a lot of people will not be able to afford to do."

His dentist, Theo Butler, who takes children and adults on the NHS at the moment, said he is not happy with the situation and supports the petition.

"I can see in 10 years' time a generation of children with really bad teeth because parents cannot afford dental care."

East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust said: "NHS services provided by dentists will depend on local needs and the contract that is agreed with the Primary Care Trust.

"This may mean that some dentists continue to provide children-only NHS services and the Lincolnshire PCTs are considering child-only contracts," the trust said.