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UK
Asian Voice - Saturday 28th August 2010
Hundreds of dentists earn more than £300,000 Hundreds of dentists are earning more than £300,000 under new contracts, official figures have disclosed. Tax data has shown that 410 dentists in England and Wales earned more than £300,000 in 2008/9, up by eight per cent on the previous year. In total almost 700 dentists earned more than £250,000 from NHS and private work, according to the figures from the NHS Information Centre. The findings will reignite the debate over highly paid health professionals, especially at a time when many civil servants and workers in the private sector are losing their jobs. GP partners earn on average £100,000 but some have been found to earn salaries of more than £250,000. The government has announced plans to freeze public sector pay for the
highest earners as the NHS struggles to save £20bn over the next four years. New contracts were introduced in 2006 to make the payment system for patients simpler but it was warned that dentists would be encouraged to carry out more complex treatments in order to earn more money. The report showed that across all dentists the average earned was £89,600 in 2008/9, up by just £500 on the previous year. This is because the majority do not run practices and are employed by principals to work shifts and so may work parttime. For dentists who run the practice, holding contracts with the NHS, while also treating patients, the average salary before tax was £131,000, up by three per cent on the previous year.
However dentists’ representatives said the data also showed that the expenses involved in running a practice had increased faster than income. Average expenses increased by 7.6 per cent while the practice income only increased by six per cent, the British Dental Association said. The NHS Information Centre also released data showing the proportion of patients who have used an NHS dentist in the last two years and reveal a wide variation. It shows that people Great Yarmouth and Waveney are three times more likely to see an NHS dentist than those in Kensington and Chelsea in London. Overall the areas where the fewest people saw and NHS dentist tended to be affluent suggesting they were treated privately.
Kingsbury man Haroon Zafaryab claims victory A driver is claiming victory over a clamping firm after a 30-hour vigil overturned a fine of almost £4,000. Haroon Zafaryab, 27, of Kingsbury, returned from prayers at Wembley Central Mosque, in Ealing Road, to find security firm City Watch Parking Enforcement was demanding £365 to release his Toyota Prius, reports a local newspaper. The nursery boss refused to pay, saying signs in the Copland Mews car park stated the tariff was just £100. He sat in the car with friend Fazan Munir, 23, from 1.20pm on Wednesday until after 7pm the next day to stop it
being towed, while all four wheels were clamped and 40 separate fines stuck to the windscreen. The clampers hiked the fine up to an eye-watering £3,865 but the pair refused to budge and the company eventually backed down. Mr Zafaryab said: “I was very pleased because we stopped this oppression. As a community, we won. I felt like part of a family.” His mother, Samina Zafaryab, 64, told of her joy at her son’s victory saying: “I think he’s done a wonderful job. I’m so proud.” Friends rallied round them, bringing kebabs, dates and milk to help
them break fast during Ramadan. By the time the clampers gave in there were around 40 people on the pavement cheering them on. Mr Munir said: “When the clamps were removed everyone was cheering. The clampers couldn’t believe they had had to go through all that for just £100. “We did this to stop people being robbed of their hard-earned cash. It was such a good feeling when they took the clamps off.” City Watch did not comment on the incident, when approached by the local paper.
Twenty-four hour booze bid row An off license’s plan to sell alcohol 24 hours a day has been met with fierce opposition by police, residents and councillors. T The application by the shop in Ilford, is due to be heard at Redbridge Town Hall next week. The council’s licensing sub-committee are due to hear a number of objections, including from Loxford Safer Neighbourhood Police Team. Police believe the number of drunken people in the street will increase. A spokesman said:
Cllr Virenda Tewari and Filly Maravala
“This can result in noise, assaults and damage to property. The SNT has experienced problems regarding drinking in the
street and prostitution. It is feared that were this application to be approved, both of these activities would be exacerbated.” Tenants of Fernways Sheltered Housing, Cecil Road, Ilford have lodged a complaint, saying drunks in nearby alleyways defecate in bins. One complainant said if a 24-hour licence was approved, it would lead to groups of drunkards and drug addicts continuing to drink and use drugs throughout the night. The three ward Cllrs Filly Maravala, Taifur Rashid and Virenda Tewari, have objected on the grounds of public safety. Despite a number of requests from the Recorder, manager Liaqat Ali Khan Chouhan was unavailable for comment.
Ilford mum in hospital pregnancy horror A first time mum told Ilford Recorder she was found blood-soaked in a hospital car park just minutes after nurses told her she was not in enough pain to be in labour. Saira Choudhri, of Craigen Gardens, Ilford, allegedly claims she was told to leave Queen’s Hospital, Romford, soon after arriving last month (July 2) by midwives who examined her and believed she was not ready to give birth But the legal worker said she had been experiencing “unbearable” pain for around seven hours and by the time she left she was having contractions just two minutes apart. She told Ilford Recorder: “I begged them to let me stay. But they said this was not labour pains and I would know if I was in labour.” The 31year-old and her husband Amir, 27, made their way back to their car but as they paused at the pay and
Saira with baby Iman
display machine two nurses rushed towards them. Saira said: “They asked me where I was going and I said I had been told to go home but they said ‘no you can’t, you’re bleeding.’ “I looked down and my trousers were soaked with blood. My heart just sank. When you’ve been carrying a baby for nine months and you see that, you automatically think the worse.” Saira was rushed to A&E where doctors examined her and
declared her ready to give birth. She was told she was past the pain relief stage and said she spent the next two hours in “excruciating pain” as she gave birth to baby Iman. She told Ilford Recorder: “Having a baby is supposed to be a special experience but it was completely ruined for me and the treatment I received is unforgivable.” A spokesman for Queen’s Hospital told the paper: “We have received a complaint from Mrs Choudhri this week and a thorough investigation will be carried out. Women in labour are advised to remain at home until their labour is advanced to promote normality and reduce the risk of intervention. Once they are at our 24 hour triage area, patients are dealt with on an individual and case-by-case basis to ensure the most appropriate care.
Northwick Park infection control expert helps tackle India’s hospital superbugs A leading infection control expert at The North West London Hospitals NHS Trust is helping lead a project in India to reduce the number of hospital superbugs. Dr Guduru Gopal Rao OBE, who is head of microbiology and lead clinician for infection control at the Trust, is advising the government in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh on how to stop the spread of infections including the new NDM-1 superbug which made headlines in the UK last week. The project is being launched at Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad the largest city in Andhra Pradesh, which has a population of 76 million. Part of the project involves setting up a protocol-based system to monitor and prevent hospital infections. Dr Rao has also advised the authorities
to strengthen the district’s microbiology laboratories and set up infection control committees in every hospital. He has strongly supported the call to run workshops for medical professionals to curb indiscriminate use of antibiotics and prevent the emergence of newer drug resistant bacteria. Dr Rao developed the first universal screening programme for MRSA in the UK, and his research and innovative approaches to reduce infections have been recognised internationally. He said: “I am delighted to play a part in developing and strengthening systems in Andhra Pradesh’s hospitals to stop the spread of infections. We have a strong track record here in the Trust and it’s a privilege to be able to share what we have learnt with my eminent colleagues in Hyderabad. It will certainly be very excit-
ing to see improvements as they unfold and I hope the project can be rolled out further across the state.” A delegation from the Andhra Pradesh government visited the Trust in June this year to learn more about what the Trust has done to combat infections. Dr Rao says: “The delegation was impressed with what we’ve done to turn around hospital associated infections in our hospitals. They wanted to learn more about the successful protocols and policies we’ve developed here with a view to adopting them in their own country.” The Trust’s infection rates have decreased significantly in the past five years. Rates of MRSA have decreased by 71 per cent over five years, while cases of Clostridium difficile are down 61 per cent over five years.
Grieving husband calls for Post Office review The husband of a postmistress who took her own life after she felt pressure at work has called on the Post Office to review its target system. Dawn Holt, 50, downed a lethal cocktail of drugs and alcohol after writing a suicide note mentioning pressure at the Faringdon Post Office, which she ran for four years. She was found dead in her car outside Carterton Health Centre in Alvescot Road in April last year, with the letter on the passenger seat. It read: “I am very sorry for putting you all
through this, but no longer can I cope with life. The pressure at the Post Office over the last few months. I know you will all say I took the easy way out, but I could not think of any other options. I am so sorry.” Her husband of 30 years, Stephen, said he was angry at the Post Office for producing the targets, which he said contributed to her decision to end her life. He said Mrs Holt’s ‘Branch Visit Agenda’, which stated what was good about the branch, and what needed improving, did not praise her
enough. It also detailed ongoing issues and said Mrs Holt was £36,000 below the £200,000 target on foreign currency transactions. An inquest into Mrs Holt’s death in September last year recorded she took her own life. The Post Office wrote to Mr Holt on July 22 this year and said it was satisfied the local development manager had “acted reasonably and that there was no breach of duty on the part of Post Office Limited.” The Post Office said it would be inappropriate to comment on the case.