Rayleigh man spent £7,500 correcting botched dental work (From Echo)

Rayleigh man spent £7,500 correcting botched dental work

7:00am Sunday 15th July 2012 in Local News

A MAN who was left in agony after botched dental work is backing a national campaign demanding a change in the law.

Philip Winslow, 57, of Lancaster Road, Rayleigh, has thrown his weight behind the Bridge the Gap campaign, launched by the Dental Law Partnership.

The protest calls on the Government to close a legal loophole which allows dentists to operate without insurance. Dental insurers do not have to provide any information to claimants without the dentist’s approval, leaving an increasing number of people without redress when things go wrong.

In 2009, Mr Winslow had four false teeth implanted in his jaw by Polish dentist Piotr Reichel.

However, the dentist had not spotted Mr Winslow’s gum disease, which meant the work should not have been done.

Mr Winslow, who spent £7,500 correcting the botched work, said: “It was only when we got a second opinion we learnt my bone levels were poor and not suitable to place implants.

“To add insult to injury, I have learnt I have absolutely no form of redress.

“All I can do is continue trying to put right the damage Dr Reichel did.

“I can’t believe I have to fund this from my own pocket. It’s sickening.”

In January, the General Dental Council banned Reichel, who fled the country in 2010, from practicing in the UK for five years.

Chris Dean, who is heading the campaign for the partnership, said there were hundreds of patients across the country in Mr Winslow’s shoes, and a change was desperately needed.

Mr Dean added: “Over the past few years, we have been asked to help more and more victims in similar situations to Philip.

“We cannot fight for justice for them, as the legal system is failing them.

“The loopholes in the law and deliberate lack of co-operation from insurance companies make access to justice impossible. That has got to change.”

The partnership put its case to the Westminster Forum in London yesterday. To sign the Bridge the Gap petition, visit btgcampaign.co.uk

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