PCT access scheme to treat extra patients

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust (PCT) plans to invest £250K to improve dental access for NHS patients, as the first stage of the PCT’s Dental Investment Plan which will deliver more NHS dental services in the area and improve access to NHS dentists for local residents.

The PCT is currently contacting Dental Practices across the borough to identify those practices which would like to take part in this scheme.
 
Carole Williams, Primary Care Contracts Manager, said: “The Access Scheme is our first pilot running until March 2008. It is hoped that by negotiating terms and conditions with our local dentists we can provide single courses of dental treatment for NHS patients living in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale. The response from Dental Practices so far has been encouraging. Soon the PCT will be launching more dental schemes across the borough thanks to increased investment earmarked for dentistry.”

Patients can only be referred onto the Access Scheme for a single course of NHS treatment by the PCT Dental Department, Dental Access Centre or by the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).

Only residents of the borough who have not been treated by a dentist in the past 15 months will be eligible for treatment under the scheme.

Denise Dawson, Patient Experience Manager, said: “PALS has already helped hundreds of patients access an NHS dentist. We have been working closely with the PCT Dental Department and local Dentists to ensure patient feedback influences the future planning of dental services and will bring maximum benefit to local residents. PALS welcome the Access Scheme as the initial step that is certain to help hundreds more patients’ access NHS treatment.”

PALS can help local people who are currently experiencing difficulties accessing local NHS dental treatment.

Contact the PALS service on 0161 655 1550. Alternatively you can write to PALS at the freepost address:

Patient Advice and Liaison Service
Heywood, Middleton amp; Rochdale PCT
FREEPOST NEA 15389
Manchester
M24 9EB