Dentist’s refusal angers mother

Jun 26 2009 by Lynn Duke, Strathearn Herald

A CRIEFF woman has voiced her dissatisfaction with a Strathearn dental practice claiming her three-year-old daughter was refused “urgent” dental care.

Seuna Walker, who is a private patient at the Laurel House Dental Practice in Comrie Road, arranged an appointment for her toddler but, despite having had work carried out at the practice in the past, says she was told by Laurel House that her daughter’s NHS appointment would have to be cancelled unless she too agreed to have a general examination.

Mrs Walker told the Strathearn Herald: “A Laurel House receptionist insisted that patients were required to be regular attenders if their children were to be treated as NHS patients and this meant undergoing an examination every six months.

“I pointed out that I had a filling replaced at Laurel House in March this year, and also saw a dentist in October of last year, but was told my daughter would have to find an alternative dentist.

“To be told my daughter’s emergency appointment had been cancelled because I wasn’t a regular enough client beggars belief.

“I find it astonishing that people can run a business like this in this day and age, particularly in this current economic climate.

“I think everyone is shocked at what has been allowed to happen to NHS dentistry in this country and situations such as this merely reinforce that feeling of disbelief.

“I have been a regular private patient at Laurel House since I moved to Crieff, but there is no way I would darken their door ever again.”

A representative of the practice’s owner said they are committed to seeing all emergency patients within 24 hours and would not, “in any circumstance decline any registered patient ‘urgent’ dental care”.

They stated: “Upon hearing the misinformation given to the patient’s parents by the receptionist, the practice manager took action immediately.

“She called the patient’s parents back within five minutes to offer an alternative appointment, which was in fact sooner than the original appointment, as the priority at this time was to ensure that the child received the treatment that was required. Mrs Walker declined this appointment. Again I must stress that at no time would we withhold treatment from any of our registered patients.”

Mrs Walker says that she subsequently arranged an emergency appointment at another local practice, where her daughter received a filling immediately.