IOM DHSC & MANX CARE

[forestboy]

10 minutes ago, Jarndyce said:

Indeed - a big improvement.

Maybe she should take over representation in Malew & Santon. 🤣

[forestboy]

10 minutes ago, wrighty said:

Here’s my 3-point plan to solve dentistry on the island. 
 

1. Re-introduce the school dental service to get kids used to dentists, educate them about hygiene, and identify potential problems early. 
    
2. Fluoridate the water supply
3. Fully privatise primary dental care for working age adults. A check up and a couple of scale/polishes a year doesn’t cost a fortune - most people spend more on haircuts (and nobody suggests that should be an NHS service)

 

 

Only agree with 1.

[Jarndyce]

54 minutes ago, wrighty said:

most people spend more on haircuts (and nobody suggests that should be an NHS service)

…not yet…🤔

[Moghrey Mie]

2 hours ago, wrighty said:

Here’s my 3-point plan to solve dentistry on the island. 
 

1. Re-introduce the school dental service to get kids used to dentists, educate them about hygiene, and identify potential problems early. 
    
2. Fluoridate the water supply
3. Fully privatise primary dental care for working age adults. A check up and a couple of scale/polishes a year doesn’t cost a fortune - most people spend more on haircuts (and nobody suggests that should be an NHS service)

 

 

I agree about school dental service. I have fond memories of going to see Mr Curphey at Ramsey Grammar School.

There was a fully equipped dental surgery at the school.

Also fluoride is effective but the usual suspects will accuse government of poisoning them.

NHS 'free at the point of delivery' principle long gone as regards dentistry. But it should be.

[Two-lane]

Does Manx Care keep records of the people who have taken themselves off the waiting list and themselves paid for treatment or surgery? Is there a published summary? How about estimates the sums of money involved?

[As an aside, I recall reading in the last week or so a news article about people paying for private cataract surgery rather than wait a couple of years. I have tried in vain to re-find the article. Does anyone recall where the article is?]

[Zulu]

I received a letter from the consultant today and on checking he dictated the letter/report on the 24th Feb but it wasn't typed up till the 7th March - at least it was posted the same day for once!

[wrighty]

29 minutes ago, Moghrey Mie said:

I agree about school dental service. I have fond memories of going to see Mr Curphey at Ramsey Grammar School.

There was a fully equipped dental surgery at the school.

Also fluoride is effective but the usual suspects will accuse government of poisoning them.

NHS 'free at the point of delivery' principle long gone as regards dentistry. But it should be.

To expand on my 3 point plan…

Fluoride is a simple, safe, public health water treatment that would prevent a lot of dental decay. The ‘usual suspects’ don’t object to chlorine to prevent us getting cholera (or perhaps they do and are ignored) so why the objection?

School dentistry would hopefully mean we don’t have a group of dental phobic adults who only go once it’s far too late. Regular maintenance is the key, and if kids learnt that at school perhaps they wouldn’t really much need a dentist going forwards. 
 

And as for the ‘free at the point of delivery’ ideal, I disagree. If a service is free, it’s not valued. I’ve known a few dentists over the years and they all say that NHS patients and private patients are ‘different species’. Private patients dutifully turn up for their check ups, and go for years with no actual treatment. NHS patients don’t go for years, and turn up with a mouthful of rotting pegs demanding it all be fixed, straight away. (Yes, I’m generalising/stereotyping) And it’s not just a money thing. As I indicated, I pay about £120 a year for private dental care. You can get dental insurance for not hugely more than that if you sign up for regular checks and hygienist appointments. 
 

So, start kids off properly with regard to dental health, prevent problems with fluoride, and have an adult population who values their dental care, pay a relatively small amount for it, and consequently don’t really need it. Sorted. 

[finlo]

1 hour ago, Two-lane said:

Does Manx Care keep records of the people who have taken themselves off the waiting list and themselves paid for treatment or surgery? Is there a published summary? How about estimates the sums of money involved?

[As an aside, I recall reading in the last week or so a news article about people paying for private cataract surgery rather than wait a couple of years. I have tried in vain to re-find the article. Does anyone recall where the article is?]

I don't know where to find it written but it is a thing because I know of someone who has just paid 3k I think to jump the waiting list.

[Cinderella]

Largely agree with Wrighty with a tweak: expand the ‘free’ preventative to OAPs. So many elderly people suffer terrible pain from teeth issues late in life. Cost would not be extreme, but relieve suffering.

Not having fluoridation in the island’s water is a disgrace. Such an easy public health measure and particularly helps children long term due to reduced cavities.

[wrighty]

20 minutes ago, Cinderella said:

Largely agree with Wrighty with a tweak: expand the ‘free’ preventative to OAPs. So many elderly people suffer terrible pain from teeth issues late in life. Cost would not be extreme, but relieve suffering.

Not having fluoridation in the island’s water is a disgrace. Such an easy public health measure and particularly helps children long term due to reduced cavities.

I did say ‘working age’ in my first post, so we agree completely 🙂

[Shake me up Judy]

Wrighty might only pay £120pa for his private dental care but that's because the NHS is still funding the system. If everyone went private the annual fee would soon double or triple. 

[WTF]

2 hours ago, wrighty said:

To expand on my 3 point plan…

Fluoride is a simple, safe, public health water treatment that would prevent a lot of dental decay. The ‘usual suspects’ don’t object to chlorine to prevent us getting cholera (or perhaps they do and are ignored) so why the objection?

School dentistry would hopefully mean we don’t have a group of dental phobic adults who only go once it’s far too late. Regular maintenance is the key, and if kids learnt that at school perhaps they wouldn’t really much need a dentist going forwards. 
 

And as for the ‘free at the point of delivery’ ideal, I disagree. If a service is free, it’s not valued. I’ve known a few dentists over the years and they all say that NHS patients and private patients are ‘different species’. Private patients dutifully turn up for their check ups, and go for years with no actual treatment. NHS patients don’t go for years, and turn up with a mouthful of rotting pegs demanding it all be fixed, straight away. (Yes, I’m generalising/stereotyping) And it’s not just a money thing. As I indicated, I pay about £120 a year for private dental care. You can get dental insurance for not hugely more than that if you sign up for regular checks and hygienist appointments. 
 

So, start kids off properly with regard to dental health, prevent problems with fluoride, and have an adult population who values their dental care, pay a relatively small amount for it, and consequently don’t really need it. Sorted. 

that all sounds good  but the reality is that dentistry isn't a health service it's a health industry ,   a dentist will often find something that needs doing so they can bill someone  for it ,  i never remember as a kid the dentist going round my mouth with a spike on a stick pulling my gums away from my teeth until they bled and then telling me i had the start of gum disease.  i also remember a few years back taking my kid for an emergency dental appointment and their usual dentist was off so another dentist at the same practice saw them ,  IIRC they offered a temporary filling, a proper filling or having the tooth  out  , the kid said take it out  which surprised the dentist who quickly back peddled on that option because he didn't want remove the problem tooth and deny his associate numerous dental appointments and fees maintaining it,  not what he said of course but what it boiled down in  my books,   why even offer extraction as an option in the first place if  you won't do it??  

[Catrisk]

3 minutes ago, WTF said:

that all sounds good  but the reality is that dentistry isn't a health service it's a health industry.

Tracey Bell admitted at her daughters recent court case that she earns over £2M a year. That should tell you all you need to know about dentists. 

[forestboy]

2 minutes ago, Catrisk said:

Tracey Bell admitted at her daughters recent court case that she earns over £2M a year. That should tell you all you need to know about dentists. 

Obscene. 😣

[WTF]

2 minutes ago, Catrisk said:

Tracey Bell admitted at her daughters recent court case that she earns over £2M a year. That should tell you all you need to know about dentists. 

yes, but she is more of cosmetic dentist than a drill and fill specialist.  but they all charge like wounded rhinos though.