dentist appointment after denplan deadline.

sammy_kaye18

Hi All

I know there area few people on here who can give me advice so figured id ask

my dentist is switching over to private from nhs and we need to sign on denplan with our dentist which we are going to in order to stay as her patient - again which we plan to do because she is a good dentist so me and bf will be signing and she is keepign our 4 year old under nhs until he is 18.

anyway i had an appointment today, which i have had to cancel as my boiler decided to pack in last night and the only help i got from council about my boiler is 'they'll be out to look at it sometime today'. My dentist appointment was booked for 12 oclock

anyway i had to ring to re arrange dentist appointment and she said the cut off was the 10th, she then asked was i planning on going on denplan, and i said this was the last filling i needed then i will be signing up and onto it there and then for both me and boyfriend. So she asked if i could come in monday next week at 2.30 which i have accepted and will 100% be going to and like i said signing onto the denplan. The receptionist then said after id made the appointment that she would go and tell my dentist and i havent heard anythign back yet so do i take that as it was ok???

my question is do they now have to honour the appointment and keep me registered with my dentist and on their books?? seeing as it was work that they knew was previosuly needed and they agreed to sign me up there and then??

Toothsmith

I'm sure there'll be no problems.

The last thing they want to be loosing is good loyal patients who value the service they offer. You bend over backwards to keep hold of patients like this.

Just to say though, that it will be unlikely that your 4 yr old will have NHS treatment for the next 16 years. PCTs are getting a bit tight about dentists JUST seeing kids on the NHS, and are increasingly refusing child-only NHS contracts.

Go with it whilst it's available, but - be aware it may not last.

sammy_kaye18

PCT - sorry cant think what it is??

It said in the letter informing us of the switch over that he would stay under the NHs but would only be treated at our dentist if me and his fahter signed onto the DenPlan. So is that right??

Maybe I should ask - like i said i dont mind paying for him as she is a good dentist and my little boy has always seen her.

Toothsmith

PCT = Primary Care Trust

What used to be known as your local health authority, although they've had many name changes in the last decade. All with a nice expensive new logo and stationary to go with it!!!

Toothsmith

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

It said in the letter informing us of the switch over that he would stay under the NHs but would only be treated at our dentist if me and his fahter signed onto the DenPlan. So is that right??

Really, they are sailing very close to the wind by doing this.

They are not allowed to 'reserve' any NHS places for anybody. If they have an NHS contract, then they are obliged to see anybody who wants NHS treatment. Many dentists do this sort of thing quietly, but to write down in a letter that they are going to operate in this way is really asking for action to be taken against them.