Dentists And Nhs Treatment

[gollob]

I phoned my dentist in Frinton on sea to book an appointment for a check up
I was told as I had not visited them for three years I was no longer a patient there . But I could go private and they gave me a date at the end of July. The system stinks. So I looked for another NHS Dentist in the area and the nearest one was 16 miles away. I thought I should complain to my MP Giles Watling but he is quite useless

[roopower]

I had my annual checkup appointment cancelled last July. I rang my dentist this morning and have an appointment next week. I had thought they would ring me.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah complain
Dentists can only do private patients if they wish
( so can doctors)

the three year bit is that they lost out on asking you if you wished to convert 3 y ago. If you said no they wd have said go elsewhere

[davebro]

Rang today - got an appt for a (NHS) checkup next month.

[jourdain2]

I drive 12 miles (and then there's a good 10 mins. walk) to my NHS dentist. I'm going tomorrow actually. OK I can drive, but I have to there's no bus. It's the same for my optician. I don't think 16 miles is very o.t.t.. There is a private one 4 miles away.

[chelle7272]

I didn't think patient numbers were capped.
Dentists are paid for NHS patients by Units of Dental Activity and do not get paid if they don't hit contractual targets.
So if a patient has zero activity, they don't want them on their books.

[daz1969]

I live near a large city in the North West where dentists are '10 a penny', I broke a tooth on Saturday and tried about 20 in my area, all said they were not taking on NHS patients due to the back log but I could pay to go private was said by about 3 quarters of them, one suggested I went online & looked at the NHS website, so there was a number to call & they would help me find dentists in my area who are allowing new NHS patients. I called the number, the guy gave me just 3 dentists who he said are definitely accepting new patients. I rang all 3, not one of them are accepting new patients. I'm calling them back tomorrow. I haven't been to the dentist in about 2 years, the only reason why is because my dentist retired and it is just one of those things I stupidly didn't get round to. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[William51]

This is what happens if you do not attend your dentist, they strike you off their list. To keep on a dentists books it is good to have a check up appointment once a year.

[piggynose]

22.24 WA ( worst answer)