Local News 
Labour group supports new NHS dentist contracts [October 5th 2006]
letter to the local press
It is disappointing to have to write a letter to correct a piece of mis-information by a Tory councillor.
At the council meeting last month, Councillor Harvey Cohen proposed a motion on NHS dentists and the new dentists contracts.
The Labour group took the view that the new contracts are beneficial to patients. They are also financially beneficial to dentists, a minimum £80,000 per year. My colleague, Councillor Frank Ward, rightly accused some dentists of being fat cats for moving in to the private sector and ignoring the people who need NHS dental care. All the dentists have to do for this new contract is a bit more paper work.
Councillor Cohen accused the Labour group of not supporting the motion. This is blatantly untrue. We supported the principle of the motion; it was passed unanimously on the nod. Who seriously wouldn't want more dentists in the NHS? What we disagreed with, in this motion, was the rather lame attempt at petty politicking and government bashing.
The basic facts are that the new contracts are good for dentists as well as being good for patients. There were too many charges under the old regime (400 plus), now there are just three bands.
Like all things new there is a resistance to change. What might be helpful is that if Mr Cohen is really concerned about NHS dental care in Hertsmere; he should apologise for his misleading comments and then think about moving his practice into Hertsmere. That really would be doing something for our residents.
Councillor Leon Reefe Brookmeadow Ward Hertsmere Labour group leader
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