Because I'm a good boy I go to the dentist for a checkup twice a year. I always have, one needs to look after one's teeth. Sorry! I started off with a lie and you should never start off with a lie. The "always have" bit, not the looking after your teeth bit. For a long time I didn't go to the dentist, it was quite expensive and it wasn't a favourite past time of mine. It still wasn't cheap unless you could find an NHS dentist, but I think only The Loch Ness Monster is a rarer site. I can't remember how I found out but their was a Dentist near me who were taking on NHS patients, but I had to hurry as there were a very limited number of spaces. I signed up and because I am disabled, my treatment is free. I started going again in 2018 and I've been going every 6 months ever since. The last 2 times I've attended, I've been marched off the premises and told not to show my face for 9 - 12 months. Sorry, that's a lie again. The bit about not showing my face for 9 - 12 months, although true, they didn't make it sound like I was being barred from a pub.
I like this Dentist, the staff have always been very accommodating and help me get into the building, they always make the downstairs treatment room available and they don't make me get into the dentist chair unless absolutely necessary. I'm reluctant to shine a light on the fact that there is no wheelchair access at all. The dental practice is an old end-of-terrace house. Come to think of it the dental practice I used in my younger days was an identical set up, but that one was far worse accessibility wise - I think there was a step up to the front door.
The entrance to this is flat, but the door is PVCu. The entrance is very narrow so the door can only open ninety degrees, but the door is about an inch thick, meaning the already narrow entrance loses about an inch and a half of width when the door is open. The frame/surround has about a 20mm lip at the bottom which I can get over in the manual chair by pushing my feet against the ground to lift the chair. I don't know how possible that will be in a chair that's over twice the weight.
I haven't been in nine months though, so if they've fixed the issue, you've just wasted your time reading this. You're welcome. 😁 At least you can watch the video and witness me - in what is becoming a running theme on this blog - running into a wall and running off the curb into the road. Again, you're welcome 😁
So, in conclusion, nothing much has changed, it's still as difficult to access. The reception desk is aboout the height of my shoulders and the receptionist is sitting behind the desk and doesn't stand to make communication any easier. The floor is nice and smooth though and there is acres of room. The denist room is very congested and extremely difficult to move around. There's barely enough room to turn around - and I can turn on a six pence.
Also, there's this really big imovable chair in the way which I'm not sure is necessary...
All in all it's not too much of a problem as I only have to do it once a year and it's another opportunity to take advantage of now being independant. In the past I've had to get a taxi or get a lift off my parents'. It's a great opportunity to meet people. I've met a few people while I'm out pootling around - especially when the weather was good and people were out walking their dogs. Dogs are often fascinated by the chair that moves on its own. I had to stop on one occasion because I could hear a dog wheezing as it was straining at its lead to get to me. The wheelchair can also be a good conversation starter for the non dog-owner as was the case at the Dentist's when a woman was telling me about her friend who has a motorised wheelchair.
