[Misc] Dentist Query - Any one a dentist or know how the system works ?

Westdene Seagull · Oct 12, 2020

So Mrs WS is a registered NHS patient with a local dentist practice. Has been there a number of years. She cracked a tooth back in June and phoned up to see a dentist. "Sorry Mrs WS, due to Covid we're only seeing emergencies and a cracked tooth isn't an emergency.". The tooth has now cracked in half ( not a pleasant sight ! ). So Mrs WS phones up today and is told she will have to pay £45 just to see a dentist. "So, you no longer treat NHS patients then ?" - "Oh yes we do, it's just our credits have run out and and so we need to charge. We do charge a reduced rate though.".

What the actual fvck ?? Don't get me started on the fact health preserving dentistry should be FREE on the NHS anyway and that ALL state trained dentists should take NHS patients anyway. So, please, someone in the know explain to me how this system works ( I use the word 'works' very loosely ). As far as I can see dentists are nothing more than money sucking private enterprises. :rant:

Springal · Oct 12, 2020

Find another NHS dentist? Or pay up?

Westdene Seagull · Oct 12, 2020

Springal said:
Find another NHS dentist? Or pay up?

Finding NHS dentists isn't easy and I see no reason to pay 'privately' just because dentists want to earn a shed load of money.

Deleted member 2719 · Oct 12, 2020

Sorry to hear about the missus problem, if you wait long enough Bold Seagull will turn up and tell you all you need to know about dentistry and their systems, and he will not charge you a thing.

Westdene Seagull · Oct 12, 2020

Mouldy Boots said:
Sorry to hear about the missus problem, if you wait long enough Bold Seagull will turn up and tell you all you need to know about dentistry and their systems, and he will not charge you a thing.

Is he a dentist ?

An update - a couple of NHS dentists have said that they are only allowed to treat current patients and the NHS helpline were next to useless.

Dick Swiveller · Oct 12, 2020

Westdene Seagull said:
Is he a dentist ?

An update - a couple of NHS dentists have said that they are only allowed to treat current patients and the NHS helpline were next to useless.

No - it is Mouldy's idea of "Bantz" which definitely isn't a dig against another poster out of context. He has dictionary definitions to back it up and everything. Definitely Bantz. No doubt about it.

zefarelly · Oct 12, 2020

A minor aside, but personal experience has taught me a good private dentist is a better professional and investment than anyone else. They all charge like wounded Rhino, but the best ones also do whats best for your mouth/gums/jaw & teeth.

Blue&WhiteSea · Oct 12, 2020

Westdene Seagull said:
Finding NHS dentists isn't easy and I see no reason to pay 'privately' just because dentists want to earn a shed load of money.

Hi, not a dentist but used to work in the industry. Unless things have changed dentists are awarded an NHS contract each year to do a set number of UDAs (units of dental activity), the number of units is supposed to be determined based on the number of NHS dentists in the area and projections of dwmand.

Once a dentist has completed all of their UDAs they have to negotiate a change to the contract in order to be able to do more NHS work before the end of the year or they have to wait till the new year to get their new allocation of UDAs.
A contract will only be changed if there are other dentists who are not going to complete their contracted UDAs.

Deleted member 2719 · Oct 12, 2020

Westdene Seagull said:
Is he a dentist ?

An update - a couple of NHS dentists have said that they are only allowed to treat current patients and the NHS helpline were next to useless.

No, sorry he is probably busy at the moment knocking up a vaccine for covid. He will be won't take long. :hilton:

There is a dentist on here, I am sure he will give you some advice when he see the thread.

Hence the banter bump up I did for you. :thumbsup:

Dick Swiveller said:
No - it is Mouldy's idea of "Bantz" which definitely isn't a dig against another poster out of context. He has dictionary definitions to back it up and everything. Definitely Bantz. No doubt about it.

I don't do Bantz, I just stick to good old fashion banter.
I noticed you like a bit of banter yourself, "Ooh, you are awful, but I like you". :thumbsup:

Westdene Seagull · Oct 12, 2020

Blue&WhiteSea said:
Hi, not a dentist but used to work in the industry. Unless things have changed dentists are awarded an NHS contract each year to do a set number of UDAs (units of dental activity), the number of units is supposed to be determined based on the number of NHS dentists in the area and projections of dwmand.

Once a dentist has completed all of their UDAs they have to negotiate a change to the contract in order to be able to do more NHS work before the end of the year or they have to wait till the new year to get their new allocation of UDAs.
A contract will only be changed if there are other dentists who are not going to complete their contracted UDAs.

Thank you. This isn't a dig at you but that is a disgusting system. So if you're the unfortunate patient towards the end of the year you can't get treatment, yet no other NHS dentist can do the treatment because you're registered elsewhere. It's a shambles.

mune ni kamome · Oct 12, 2020

I’m booked into my Rustington Sainsbury’s (Private) dentist for a check up and clean. Comes out of my yearly plan so no charge! Or so I thought. I have now been informed I must pay £34 for PPE For the dentists protection. Unbelievable.

Wellesley · Oct 12, 2020

YouTube it. I'm sure you can super-glue a bit of ceramic in there or something. I performed a quadruple heart bypass on myself on Saturday morning and in the afternoon I worked out how to use the washing machine. YouTube is a wonderful resource.

phoenix · Oct 12, 2020

Westdene Seagull said:
Finding NHS dentists isn't easy and I see no reason to pay 'privately' just because dentists want to earn a shed load of money.

Sorry to hear that,"
I have exactly the same problem happened in april. Phoned dentist, they said "no chance call again in October". So i called again last week, answer call in the new year". I've missed 1 appointment in the last 20 years ffs.
My son was referred to nhs as urgent (he has terrible toothache) received reply after 3 months to say we will be in touch asap.
Yes, you can go private but at least double nhs prices !

GT49er · Oct 12, 2020

Blue&WhiteSea said:
Hi, not a dentist but used to work in the industry. Unless things have changed dentists are awarded an NHS contract each year to do a set number of UDAs (units of dental activity), the number of units is supposed to be determined based on the number of NHS dentists in the area and projections of demand.

Once a dentist has completed all of their UDAs they have to negotiate a change to the contract in order to be able to do more NHS work before the end of the year or they have to wait till the new year to get their new allocation of UDAs.

With all the appointments cancelled since the start of lockdown in March, I'd be surprised if dentists had completed their UDAs, surely?

Westdene Seagull said:
Thank you. This isn't a dig at you but that is a disgusting system. So if you're the unfortunate patient towards the end of the year you can't get treatment, yet no other NHS dentist can do the treatment because you're registered elsewhere. It's a shambles.

Are you in an exempt group? - of not, £45 seems pretty good compared to the £62.10 charge for band 2 NHS treatment. The charges seem to have rocketed this year - last year I was only charged £45 for my band 2 treatment.
https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-qu...how-much-will-i-pay-for-nhs-dental-treatment/

Thunder Bolt · Oct 12, 2020

Westdene Seagull said:
So Mrs WS is a registered NHS patient with a local dentist practice. Has been there a number of years. She cracked a tooth back in June and phoned up to see a dentist. "Sorry Mrs WS, due to Covid we're only seeing emergencies and a cracked tooth isn't an emergency.". The tooth has now cracked in half ( not a pleasant sight ! ). So Mrs WS phones up today and is told she will have to pay £45 just to see a dentist. "So, you no longer treat NHS patients then ?" - "Oh yes we do, it's just our credits have run out and and so we need to charge. We do charge a reduced rate though.".

What the actual fvck ?? Don't get me started on the fact health preserving dentistry should be FREE on the NHS anyway and that ALL state trained dentists should take NHS patients anyway. So, please, someone in the know explain to me how this system works ( I use the word 'works' very loosely ). As far as I can see dentists are nothing more than money sucking private enterprises.

You can go to any NHS dentist you want, it doesn't have to be local.

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist/

dejavuatbtn · Oct 12, 2020

On the basis that toothache is just about the most painful thing in the world we opted for a dental plan with Westdene Dental Practice. It’s a monthly charge but it’s been worth the money over the years. You still have to pay extras like crowns, root treatment and they don’t do implants (that’s pretty expensive).

Westdene Seagull · Oct 12, 2020

GT49er said:
Are you in an exempt group? - of not, £45 seems pretty good compared to the £62.10 charge for band 2 NHS treatment. The charges seem to have rocketed this year - last year I was only charged £45 for my band 2 treatment.
https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-qu...how-much-will-i-pay-for-nhs-dental-treatment/

Sadly Mrs WS is not exempt despite being unemployed. Personally I don't think £45 just to see a dentist for 10 minutes when you are an NHS patient is 'pretty good'.

Thunder Bolt said:
You can go to any NHS dentist you want, it doesn't have to be local.

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist/

Not according to the three NHS dentists Mrs WS phoned today. You have to be registered with them to get treatment. None of the three were prepared to register her. Yet her current practice - HOVE FAMILY DENTAL ( thought I'd throw that in there as they appear to be scum ) - won't treat her on the NHS.

Thunder Bolt · Oct 12, 2020

Westdene Seagull said:
Sadly Mrs WS is not exempt despite being unemployed. Personally I don't think £45 just to see a dentist for 10 minutes when you are an NHS patient is 'pretty good'.

Not according to the three NHS dentists Mrs WS phoned today. You have to be registered with them to get treatment. None of the three were prepared to register her. Yet her current practice - HOVE FAMILY DENTAL ( thought I'd throw that in there as they appear to be scum ) - won't treat her on the NHS.

On that link is a list of NHS dentists, I would suggest keep trying.

beorhthelm · Oct 12, 2020

dentistry has always existed in a bizarre halfway house between NHS and private. even if you're NHS you still pay on the preset schedule, so £45 seems reasonable.

and lol at suggestions of changing to another NHS dentist, like the proverbial hens teeth. just staying on an dentist records requires a degree of interaction unknown to other fields of service, a byzantine system.

Thunder Bolt · Oct 12, 2020

beorhthelm said:
dentistry has always existed in a bizarre halfway house between NHS and private. even if you're NHS you still pay on the preset schedule, so £45 seems reasonable.

and lol at suggestions of changing to another NHS dentist, like the proverbial hens teeth. just staying on an dentist records requires a degree of interaction unknown to other fields of service, a byzantine system.

£45 is double the NHS price. I went this morning and paid £22.70.

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[Misc] Dentist Query - Any one a dentist or know how the system works ?

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