<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Getting that tooth fixed is no breeze for a student
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to Ms Ho Suit Keng's letter last Wednesday, 'Why the long wait for dental care at govt clinics?', and the National Dental Centre (NDC) and Ministry of Health's reply last Saturday, 'Specialist dental appointments within 2 weeks'.
I am a secondary school student. Last month, I went to a private dental clinic for a regular check-up and was told my wisdom tooth required attention. After getting an X-ray, I was referred to an orthodontist at another branch of the same dental care group.
However, my parents and I thought that having the treatment done at the NDC would be more affordable and professional. So I went to Woodlands Polyclinic to get a referral letter from the dental service run by the National Healthcare Group. Things moved quickly at the polyclinic and I got my referral.
However, I was extremely disappointed when I called the NDC last week for an appointment with an orthodontist. I was told I had to wait until Jan 23 next year for the next available slot.
Moreover, consultation slots were available only in the mornings, which meant I had to skip lessons. Why is that so when the NDC is open in the afternoon?
Also, shouldn't students be given priority for treatment during school holidays?
Perhaps going back to the private dentist is the only way to ensure that my condition does not deteriorate until it becomes incurable.
Kenneth Lui
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to Ms Ho Suit Keng's letter last Wednesday, 'Why the long wait for dental care at govt clinics?', and the National Dental Centre (NDC) and Ministry of Health's reply last Saturday, 'Specialist dental appointments within 2 weeks'.
I am a secondary school student. Last month, I went to a private dental clinic for a regular check-up and was told my wisdom tooth required attention. After getting an X-ray, I was referred to an orthodontist at another branch of the same dental care group.
However, my parents and I thought that having the treatment done at the NDC would be more affordable and professional. So I went to Woodlands Polyclinic to get a referral letter from the dental service run by the National Healthcare Group. Things moved quickly at the polyclinic and I got my referral.
However, I was extremely disappointed when I called the NDC last week for an appointment with an orthodontist. I was told I had to wait until Jan 23 next year for the next available slot.
Moreover, consultation slots were available only in the mornings, which meant I had to skip lessons. Why is that so when the NDC is open in the afternoon?
Also, shouldn't students be given priority for treatment during school holidays?
Perhaps going back to the private dentist is the only way to ensure that my condition does not deteriorate until it becomes incurable.
Kenneth Lui
