Folkstone Dental Patients Angered By Specialist Treatment Centre Closure
Dental patients in Folkestone have reacted angrily to the news that a specialist dental clinic will close.
Specialist services available at Folkestone Health Centre will cease on April 21st in a move that health bosses suggest will improve services. The clinic currently opens four days a week and provides treatment for patients who need specialist dental care, a well as those with underlying medical conditions. Deborah Hill uses the clinic as her regular dentist because she has back problems as a result a connective tissue condition and she says that move will have a massive impact. Patients will now have to travel to Dover, New Romney or Ashford for treatment.
Mrs Hill said that for people with disabilities, the move is a nightmare. She also added that patients have been kept in the dark about the plans and said that she has no idea who her new dentist will be.
Mark Johnstone, managing director of dental services at Kent Community NHS Trust, said that there are currently access problems for disabled patients at the Folkestone clinic, with the surgery located on the first floor with no lift. Moving the clinics to Romney, Dover and Ashford will enable patients to make use of better facilities and state of the art technology and equipment. All these clinics are already equipped to cater for patients with physical disabilities and special needs.
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