Southend PCT Hits Out At Free Student-Run Dental Clinic

Mon, 21 Apr 2008

A free dental service offered and managed by trainee university students in Southend is affecting the income received by a primary care trust (PCT) for dental contracts .

According to reports, residents in the seaside town of Southend have been opting for free treatment by local university students carried out in a new clinic that opened for business in January.

But the service has now been criticised by the South East Essex PCT, as a rise in patients using the Southend Health and Dental Care Centre (at the University of Essex Southend) has led to the PCT losing out on the fixed charge patients are required to pay for NHS dental services .

The dental clinic, staffed by senior dental students, provides local residents the chance to sign up for treatments including check-ups, routine fillings, simple root canals and extractions – all free of charge and with no referral required.

Angela Wong Keet, spokeswoman for the trust, commented: "The PCT is delighted there are increased dental services for patients . However, there is a potential financial risk to the PCT, which at this time is not quantifiable."
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