Dental practice could slash waiting list
Surgery taking on only NHS patients and plans to expand its capacity
Published:
A DENTAL practice which could cut NHS Grampian’s lengthy waiting list by almost half has opened its doors in Aberdeen.
Cove Dental Care, in Catto Walk, Cove, which has been up and running for more than three weeks, is taking on only NHS patients and already has about 3,000 on its books. Over the next nine to 12 months it aims to increase the number to 10,000.
If it is found there is still demand there are plans to expand the surgery’s capacity still further to 15,000 patients – which will slash the health board’s waiting list of around 34,000 almost by half.
The surgery has four dentists – all of whom are from Portugal, where competition for work in dentistry is rife – but a fifth, also from Portugal, has just moved to Aberdeen and is looking for a home.
There is room for a further two taking the total up to seven.
Owner Alfred Huynen, an economist who is originally from Belgium, said he had shied away from publicising the surgery, but has already had people travel more than 30 miles to sign up.
He said: “One lady came from Huntly and another drove all the way from Insch. I asked them how they found out about it and they said someone on the NHS helpline told them. The word is spreading very, very fast.
“We see every week that a dentist is closing or the dentist turning private.”
He added he has printed out 1,000 new patient forms every week and had to have 2,000 run off at the printer’s on Monday to keep up with demand.
Mr Huynen said he worked day and night for five months to set up the surgery at Cove’s former medical practice on Catto Walk, which was more than three-and-a-half years in the planning.
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said: “We are pleased to welcome the practice on board taking NHS patients.” She said the health board did not publicise its opening because it already has a central waiting list.
