Rationed health care--Your next dental appointment in 2010

Daily Mail:

More than seven million patients have been unable to see an NHS dentist for almost two years.

Most of those denied access have paid for private care instead, says Citizens Advice.

But almost three million have gone without treatment altogether, claims the charity.

The figure includes thousands of children and is much higher than Government estimates.

The charity is calling today for Primary Care Trusts, the bodies responsible for dentistry in England and Wales, to step up funding to improve care for NHS patients.

It cited the case of a low-income pensioner given emergency dental treatment in a hospital in North Yorkshire then told to get further treatment from one of two local NHS dentists - both of whom have 12-month waiting lists.

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This is what the socialized medicine crowd would like for all of us. In contrast, my Dentist is a pest, but a good kind. I got called today reminding me to get an appointment for work we discussed the last time I was there. When I needed prompt attention this fall he worked me in in a matter of a couple of days. For some reason it seems to pay to pay for your health care. It does wonders for service.