Sir, I was appalled to read in the Health for All Wirral PCT Strategy Commissioning Plan 2008-2009 where dentistry is mentioned.

  1. 1

    The re-design of dental services beyond 2009. Improve service access, improved value for money, reduced cost per head. Nowhere does it mention that patient care should be considerate and of a high standard by dental surgeons who are capable of all facets of dentistry.

  2. 2

    Nowhere does it give evidence to support the assertion that Wirral PCT overspend is higher than other PCTs countrywide. I would appreciate evidence to support this.

  3. 3

    How can it be that in a caring profession the most urgent mention is given to containing the increased financial cost? It should be improving patient care.

Dentistry and medicine are not commercial organisations. Patients are not clients or service users. These facts should be foremost in all our minds.

Dentists have a duty of care to their patients which has always overridden other considerations. There is no pretence that this is any longer possible. The NHS dentist is so aware of his or her obligations to their PCT that it is very hard for them to be able to work ethically.