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Hi Flick, Wendy
 
There is a history of Dentist's, as you may be aware, that have in the past always been mostly located above shops and here is where the trouble lies.
 
Over the last few years I have audited several Dentist's in the UK, all of which a disabled person with walking difficulties, would have problems in gaining access to, as they have been accommodated on the upper floors of buildings, that have no lift available.
 
Most of the audits have been requested by the Dental Surgeries Management after they have been threatened by action from a disabled patient, who has found it difficult to get into and out of the actual Surgery premises. In all cases I attended a Mediation Tribunal as an expert witness and a reasonable conclusion was arrived at in each of the proceedings.
 
Two years ago I gave two keynote speeches, one to the DPCS (Dental Practise Consultancy Service) the seminar was held in Birmingham and was mostly attended by lawyers who represent Dental Practices from all over the UK.  The other seminar was to the PCT in Cornwall, which was attended by their CEO and over 30 Dentists from that area.
 
At both lectures I informed them of their own and their clients responsibilities towards disabled people, the new laws, legislation and reasonable adjustments with regards to access into and egress from buildings, which are covered in (BS8300 & BS9999) that are required.........and it seems by what you have said that little or no action  has been taken, in this case - relating to the North West area.
 
During conversation I have been reliably informed that several Dentists from the Cornwall area have been proactive during the last year, with regards to making reasonable adjustments to their Dental Practices.
 
Another issue I have found occurring recently is the question of whether an Access Audit is available when Dental Practices are being sold on, this question is now also been raised by insurance companies and lenders in this regard as a condition of their services.
 
Maybe it is time for me to contact DPCS to see what has actually been done by their clients?
 
Regards
 
Mike
 
Mike Elkerton NRAC (Auditor)
Member of the National Register of Access Consultants
Regional Deputy Chairman of the Access Association
Regional CPD Officer of the Access Association. 
 


--- On Sat, 26/2/11, Flick Harris <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

From: Flick Harris <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: DEntal Surgeries
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Saturday, 26 February, 2011, 23:35

Hi Wendy

They are subject to the DDA (now the Equality Act) but the PCTs have not
been proactive in making sure that dentists comply with making reasonable
adjustments and in some instances are not aware of the design issues.  I
am in the process of taking action against my dentist's surgery with the
support of my dentist, as it is run by a national organisation. The have
lost many patients including parents with children because of the steps. I
think more of us ought to take action - there is some useful information
on the EHRC website about making complaints and taking action.

best wishes

Flick

> I have had a personal experience in Sefton with a family member now not
> able to climb the stairs to the dentist. After expressing surprise at the
> lack of access, the dentist agreed to make a home visit. Not sure how this
> will work out in practice.
>
> Why aren't dentists subject to the Disability Discrimination Act? Or do
> they all claim to be making 'reasonable effort' to enable access?
>
> Wendy
>
>
>
> Wendy Cocks
> Housing Action Support Officer
> Care and Repair England
>
>
> c/o R.I.N.G.
> 88 Carr Lane
> Norris Green
> LIVERPOOL   L11 2UE
>
> PLEASE NOTE: FROM July 2010, my usual days will be TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY,
> THURSDAY.
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> ** Visit our website for additional information on Care and Repair England
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>                         www.careandrepair-england.org.uk
>
> On Feb 25 2011, Liz East wrote:
>
>> Hi Everybody Lincoln Accessability have been told by the General Dentist
>> Patients' Guidance Service that the public can contact them on 01522
>> 515386 (Monday-Friday - 9am-2pm) who will inform them of the nearest
>> 'accessable' dentist to them. It was also explained that people with
>> disabilities would be automatically 'referred' to the Community Dental
>> Practice for an appointment and therefore all 'access issues' would be
>> taken into account. It became apparent during the telephone conversation
>> that the 'so called list of Accessible Dentists' becomes out-of-date as
>> soon as it is collated, therefore not advisable to forward the
>> Lincolnshire one to me! Hope this helps. Liz East
>>  ----- Original Message -----
>>  From: npt Access
>>  To: [log in to unmask]" rel=nofollow target=_blank>[log in to unmask]
>>  Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 10:43 AM
>>  Subject: [ACCESSIBUILT] DEntal Surgeries
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  Friends,
>>  I have recently been asked if guidance is available
>>  for fully accessible  Dental Surgeries.
>>
>>  There used to be info on NHS Estates Website,
>>   but it is not there now.
>>
>>  Can anyone help with this please?
>>
>>  Cliff Croft
>>  Neath Port Talbot  Disability Network
>>  NPT Access Group
>>  ----------End of Message---------- Run by SURFACE for more information
>> on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility
>> and Inclusive Design programme visit: http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk
>> Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at
>> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
>>
>>
>>
>> ----------End of Message---------- Run by SURFACE for more information
>> on
>> research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and
>> Inclusive Design programme visit: http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk
>> Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at
>> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> ----------End of Message----------
> Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the
> distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme
> visit:
> http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk
> Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at
> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
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----------End of Message----------
Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit:
http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk
Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html

----------End of Message---------- Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit: http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html