As far as I can see, dentists claim to not be able to treat NHS patients as they can’t afford their premises, staff, training, equipment, fancy cars, foreign holidays, marketing campaigns and fancy reception areas on NHS payments. I can’t understand that. Are the NHS fees insufficient? Are the experts who decide that sort of thing dishonest?

What should the two million people who can’t afford your fees do Alun?

I have decided to write another post about dentistry in the near future. Keep your eyes open.

How do I feel about that? It’s very sad that this government have started the selling off of NHS services to large corporate bodies with dentistry but have no fear the remainder will follow soon enough.

I think that you really need to see the writing on the wall and instead of adopting an ‘oo isn’t it awful’ approach accept that the repeated hacking away at NHS provision has been going on since 1950 when a Labour administration introduced plans for Dental & Prescription charges in their budget. They were voted out before their introduction but the Tories didn’t change any of the Labour plans. Incidentally the charges were introduced in order to free up funds for another stupid war. The budget plans led to the resignation of Nye Bevan, Harold Wilson & John Freeman from the Cabinet.

Most dentists deeply regret the changes they have had to make, dentistry is an easy target, dentists perceived as rich etc, funny how nobody resents the incomes of doctors, vets, football players, pop stars etc.

People complained about fees when the maximum charge went up from £8 to £9 in 1981. Price has always been used as an excuse for non-attendance, particularly in people who can’t be bothered to look after themselves.

Hi, My name is Dorid, and I’m a Feynmanholic.

I propose taking the Feynman lecture on Physics and illustrating them. Surely there’s a physics major out there with a penchant for drawing and time on their hands?