Guernsey Dentists Criticise New Charges
Dentists in Guernsey have criticised new proposals from the Health and Social Services Department. The new plans include charging dentists to use the hospital to treat patients, which will increase the cost of dental treatment for patients.
Health ministers are currently consulting on whether to charge patients for the use of the day case unit and it is estimated that this will increase the cost of dental surgery, which already has an average fee of £9000.
The Guernsey Dental Association has hit out at the proposals, saying that there is already a lack of support for dental care. There is currently no States support for dental care, but dentists are allowed to use facilities at the hospital for treating patients.
Dr Nav Khaira said that dental care is already very expensive for people. The States has already introduced charges for dental radiology and changes have been made to the School Dental Service and the new proposals will increase charges for oral surgery and a patient could be facing bills of around £9,300, with the same procedure costing only around £1500 in Southampton.
Health Minister, Hunter Adam, has defended the proposals, saying that it is reasonable to expect private patients to pay for the facilities they use at the hospital. The Guernsey Dental Association has vowed to fight the proposals.
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