THURSDAY, 27th OCTOBER, 2011.

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What’s on... What’s gone...

Pages 36-39

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Page 39

NHS patients lose their town centre dentist

Cuddly characters now bear names

By Chris Young The sudden closure of a Congleton dental practice has given more than 100 patients the brush-off.

The only notification was a sign on the West Street Dental Practice door on Friday and a letter from Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT stating that the contract had been terminated.

The reason has not een revealed. People phoning the surgery were told via a recorded message that the surgery had been closed indefinitely.

The care trust confirmed that it had terminated the

HS contract with Dr Setumo Madiehe and his

104 NHS patients had been transferred to new dentists, who would complete courses of treatment.

The trust said Dr Madiehe could still practise privately.

The sign on the surgery read: “The practice has been closed on a permanent basis. The decision was sudden and we apologise sincerely for any inconvenience this may have caused you.”

The trust stated: “The PCT have found it necessary, after many months of supportive intervention, to terminate the NHS dental contract with this dentist.

again in the near future.”

Patient James Jackson, who lives in Alsager but works in Congleton, had an appointment booked for next week. He said: “I’ve only just found out about the closure. I’d been treated there for a couple of years and it was OK. I had always found Mr Madiehe very pleasant — quite jolly, in fact.”

Mr Jackson added: “The practice was very handy because it was so close to work. I only hope I can find another dentist in Congleton offering treatment on the NHS who is taking on new patients.”

The bears in Congleton’s new Bearmania book have been christened.

Daisy Worrall, (5), and Charlotte Hibbert, (6), beat 340 other local children in a competition by coming up with the names The Professor and Bosley.

The “Beartown tales” tome tells of the two cuddly characters’ adventures exploring Congleton and Cheshire.

On Saturday, the name-givers were presented with framed illustrations of their bears.

For the full story and more

“Other patients looking to book appointments for checkups or urgent care appointments should contact the PCT Dental Helpline on 01270 275678 or 0800 328 9865.

“The PCT will also ensure that this current loss of NHS dental service provision in Congleton will be provided

Two men in hospital with burns from crime scene pictures, see next week’s “Chronicle”.

(“Chronicle” photo. 4330/11).

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Two men are being treated for burns in hospital following a suspected attempted metal theft at a disused Buglawton factory on Thursday.

They had ignored signs at the Bridge Row site off Brook Street warning of live cables and “danger of death”.

Police were told just after 3pm that the two local, middleaged men were at Congleton War Memorial Hospital. They were transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital, where one was treated in the intensive care burns unit. The other had “significant injuries” to his arm.

Det Sgt Paul Williams said: “Police are conducting a thorough investigation into how the men came by their injuries and we are keeping an open mind.

“We want to send out a deterrent message. This is what can occur when signs are ignored. They are there for a reason — to protect people who have legitimate or otherwise access to disused premises. The injuries sustained are significant and could quite easily have been life threatening.”

The premises, currently owned by a property company, are being treated as a crime scene. Investigators have gathered evidence and items have been removed and disconnected. A vehicle, which was not at the scene, was seized.

Det Sgt Williams said: “The company has made its best effort to secure the premises and surround them with fencing and razor wire, and it has put up appropriate health and safety signage such as ‘live cables’ and ‘danger of death’.

“It is a matter of sending out a warning to prevent thefts. I can imagine in the current economic climate that scrap metal is attractive, but there are dangers of extracting that metal. The injuries may have been sustained as a result of that type of activity.”

Electrical disruptions, such as flickering lights, were noted in the area on Thursday, which might be related to the incident.

At the time the “Chronicle” went to press, no arrests had been made and the men were still in hospital.

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