The Cross House Newsletter

As you may know, Philip Hockley retired at the end of May after 40 years at the Cross House and we are sure you would like to join us in wishing him all the very best for a happy and fulfilling retirement. Obviously this will mean some changes in the practice but you can be sure that we will continue to offer you the best care available.

We would like to welcome our new dentist, Barbara Lawson to the Cross House; Barbara is married with 3 children and lives in Worcester. Originally from Cumbria she qualified in Newcastle in 1987 and has worked in general practice since then. Barbara’s favourite pastimes include skiing and watching Worcester Warriors, she is looking forward to joining us in Tewkesbury.

As you will be aware the NHS has opened 2 new practices in Tewkesbury but we are confident that we will continue to provide an excellent service to our patients not only in terms of cost effectiveness and quality but also in the continuity of care from dentists and staff (perhaps it is worth pointing out that our nurses Sara, Sally and Loraine have been with us at the Cross House for an average 22 years each).
 
In the future we aim to provide NHS dental care to all children and young adults up to the age of 18 and therefore there will be no charge for their dental treatment. We will also provide routine examinations to those under 21yrs at £12.

We have always aimed to provide high quality treatment at realistic prices and we understand the concerns of our patients in the current financial climate so we are pleased to announce that from 1st June we have reduced the fee for all routine examinations to £16 (less than the current charge for an NHS examination of £16.50) and that the cost of any large amalgam filling will be £45, which again compares favourably with the £45.60 charged in NHS practices. A visit to one of our highly experienced Hygienists will also mean a saving of up to £9 on the prices charged by either Tewkesbury NHS practice.

In an effort to reduce the impact and spread the load of any unforeseen expenses we are also planning to introduce a practice Dental Care Scheme that covers the cost of regular dental examinations and x-rays, hygienist visits and any dental emergencies. Members of the scheme also receive substantial discounts on the costs of any further treatment. Please feel free to contact the practice if you are interested in this scheme and we will supply you with full details and costs as soon as they are available.

One thing that you will notice over the coming months is redecoration and improvement in the facilities; this is part of a programme of refurbishment which is somewhat overdue, but, for those of you who love the old building you can be assured that any changes will be sympathetic and in character.

We would also like to extend an invitation to new patients wishing to join the practice, whether they are new to the area or patients elsewhere. New appointments can be made by ringing the practice on 01684 293322 or applications can be made on our website www.crosshousedental.com and we will contact you to arrange a convenient appointment.

We look forward to seeing you soon,

Peter J James Greg Martin