Dewsbury Dentists to Trial New Charity Scheme to Help Those in Need
Dewsbury dentists have teamed up with Dentaid and a local charity project to provide people in need with dental care. As part of a new scheme, patients will pay as much or as little as they feel appropriate for the treatment they receive.
The pilot programme was established in conjunction with the Real Junk Food Project Dewsbury after volunteers noticed that many of the people who attended the drop-in sessions and visited the cafes to get a hot meal could not enjoy the food as a result of dental troubles. The Real Junk Food scheme was set up in June to help to provide food for the homeless, refugees and people surviving on a very low income.
Now, the project has been supported by Dentaid and local dentists will host sessions where people who are struggling to access affordable dental care will be able to get the treatment they need. Like the food project, dental patients will pay only what they feel they can, rather than a set fee.
Volunteer Paul Burr said that many people who came to the cafes were suffering from toothache and other dental problems and this was preventing them from enjoying the food with which they were provided. As a result, the team started to think about ways to expand the programme and involve local dentists, so that people in need could access the treatment they need.
The pilot project will launch in December. The first clinic will take place on December 3rd at Dewsbury Dental Centre.
Strategic director of Dentaid, Andy Evans, said that Dentaid has worked extensively in foreign countries and this was a great opportunity to make a positive difference to people living in the UK.
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