We will continue to manage our waiting times rigorously

14 Nov 2009, The Straits Times

Question

Name of the Person: Ho Suit Keng (Ms)

Why the long wait for dental care at govt clinics?

WHY does it take so long to receive specialist dental treatment at government clinics?

The process starts with trying to make an appointment for a referral letter from a dental clinic, usually located within a polyclinic. When I called last month, the earliest date I was given was next February - four months away.

The next step can be interminable too. Once you get the referral letter, be prepared to wait for at least three to four months for an appointment with the specialist at the National Dental Centre. The actual treatment, such as making dentures, for example, can take another six months.

In my mother's aborted attempt, we tried to shorten the wait when she tried her luck by waiting at the clinic the entire day for an untaken slot. She was lucky as a scheduled patient did not turn up and it took her only a full day's wait to obtain a referral to the specialist.

But when we subsequently discovered how long it would take for my mother to see the specialist and then have her dentures fitted - almost a year in all - we gave up, and I paid private rates for her treatment at the National Dental Centre.

The result: my mother had new dentures within a month.

I worry now about myself. When I grow old, I may not be able to afford to pay private rates. I am single and my CPF-linked medical savings do not cover most dental treatments.

Singaporeans who need subsidised dental care may also be unable to receive treatment in time. What if I had a toothache, or a gum infection? Must I wait for a year for treatment, or as in my mother's case for gum infection, some six months? What will be left to treat?

Paying private rates does not guarantee earlier treatment either. Last month, I made and confirmed an appointment with the National Dental Centre for Nov 19, only to receive a letter on Monday changing the appointment to almost a month later, on Christmas Eve. Reason: the dentist would be unavailable for my original appointment.

Reply

Name of the Person: Dr Kwa Chong Teck

Executive Director

National Dental Centre of Singapore

Name of the Person: A/Prof Patrick Tseng

Chief Dental Officer

Ministry of Health 

Ms Ho Suit Keng  asked “Why the long wait for dental care at govt clinics?” (Straits Times Forum Page, 11 November 2009) . The waiting time for a "First Appointment" at the National Dental Centre (NDC) varies by specialty and the number of specialists available each day. Patients who require urgent attention will not be turned away and NDC has a policy of offering same-day appointments.  In addition, patients who need emergency dental services can also seek treatment at government polyclinics with dental services, without the need for appointments during office hours. A 24-hour emergency dental service is also available at the A&E departments of the Singapore General Hospital, the National University Hospital and Alexandra Hospital. For patients seeking elective specialist treatment, NDC generally offers an appointment within 2 weeks.  NDC attends to most patients within 15 minutes of their arriving at the clinics.

Dental services at polyclinics and the NDC are heavily subsidised by the Ministry of Health to ensure that they remain accessible and affordable to the needy. Consequently,  there is a waiting list of patients requiring elective crown and bridgework, root canal treatment or dentures.

Occasionally, the dental surgeons are called away from the clinics and hence some appointments are re-scheduled.  However, we are careful that in such situations, the delivery of care for our patients are not compromised.

Patients are always at the heart of what we do.  We will continue to monitor and manage our waiting times rigorously. When the opportunity arises, we often advance appointments.  The National Dental Centre has also called Ms Ho to address her concerns.