Epping’s only NHS dental practice was officially opened today by the Government’s Chief Dental Advisor, Barry Cockcroft.
The practice opened for business in February, but given the huge influx of patients, there hasn’t been time to arrange an official opening. I was personally inundated with calls and emails from residents desperate to get back on an NHS dentists patient list at the time and I criticised the Government for leaving many people living in our town who didn’t have the money to pay the hefty private dental fees without any health coverage cover.
This week, the co-principal of The Tooth Booth, Dr. Amit Rai was nominated for several categories at the 2009 Dentistry Awards. He said: "Since opening earlier this year we have been touched by the warm welcome we have received from the local community.”
For more information on The Tooth Booth and other NHS dental practices in west Essex call 0800 783 3396 or click here.
Recently released Government plans could see the introduction of new requirements for the West Essex Primary Care Trust to provide preferential medical treatment to Gypsies and Travellers in the Epping Forest district.
Epping Forest MP, Eleanor Laing has written to the Secretary of State for Health, Rt. Hon. Andy Burnham MP, following the publication of guidelines to NHS practitioners, stating: "There is already considerable pressure on GPs and my local hospital as well as a severe shortage of dentists in the Epping Forest district. In addition the Government is ordering Epping Forest district to provide 39 new pitches for gypsies and travellers between now and 2011. Indeed, the district is required to provide more sites (44.7 per 1,000 new dwellings) in relation to new dwellings than any other local authority in the East of England. This disproportionate requirement would have put impossible pressure on the infrastructure of the area even before the publication of today’s guidelines. On average there are two caravans per pitch, which could amount to up to 500 gypsies and travellers moving into Epping 
Forest district, all of whom would have preferential access to local health services under these new guidelines. This would create an unbearable strain on local amenities which are already struggling to cope with the everyday needs of my constituents."
Mrs Laing has also asked Mr Burnham to confirm what additional resources will be made available to the district's health services to enable them to carry out the extra statutory responsibilities being imposed on them and stated: "We all agree that gypsies and travellers must be treated equally in accessing NHS services, but attempts to create a balanced and integrated society, including within it gypsies and travellers, will be damaged if local people see their own families suffer as a result of the Government giving priority to gypsies and travellers." A full copy of the letter is available here.
If you would like to join the campaign to oppose the Governments plans to introduce new Gypsy and Traveller sites in Epping, please click here. Alternatively, you can keep up-to-date with developments by clicking here.
Epping’s only NHS dental practice was officially opened today by the Government’s Chief Dental Advisor, Barry Cockcroft.
