Dental charges

neiljc_2

had to go to the dentist last tuesday 23rd as I had pain and had been taking painkillers since my last appointment a month before, I expected it to calm down at some point.

was seen for barely 30 seconds and told it is an infection (I didnt think it was but hey ho) and was given a prescription for antibiotics.

so I spent about £8 in petrol to get there, £16:20 for the appointment and £7:15 for the antibiotics = £31:35 in total.

the antibiotics had no effect and I have been in constant pain since and had to go out on Christmas night at 4am to an all night garage for nurofen, i have been taking so many of them and cocodamol.

I rang the surgery this morning to be told that they could not book an appointment for my practice an I had to go to surgeries over 30 miles away.

I asked for clarification that I would not be charged as per the NHS charges guidelines to be told that I would.

I eventually spoke to the practice manager and what a joy she was.

she did the old trick of not answering a question, I pointed out thtat the problem I came to see them about had not been resolved in any way and why should I have to pay again, i pointed out the guidance and she said you just do. I asked again and she ignored the question and said do you want me to book an appointment

I explained reasonably that I would like a reasonable answer to a reasonable question and she shouted at me.

I asked her to lower her voice and again said it seemed incorrect to need another payment when my problem had not been touched

she put the phone down on me.

now there are two issues

I can deal with the rudeness one

but Am I reasonable in thinking that this guidance applies?

Urgent treatment – £16.20
If you require urgent care, but your urgent treatment needs more than one appointment to complete, you will only need to pay one charge of £16.20.

I spoke to teh PCT who said that as they are an independent dental practice they can only make sure they deal with my complaint?
this doesnt sound right , who does monitor and ensure NHS charging guidelines are being followed then?

I would be grateful for your opinions

Halloway

neiljc wrote: »

Urgent treatment – £16.20
If you require urgent care, but your urgent treatment needs more than one appointment to complete, you will only need to pay one charge of £16.20.

I would say that your understanding of the urgent treatment charge is correct. The issue of your not being able to attend the same surgery does complicate matters as I am 99% certain that the carrying over of the original fee will only apply if you revisit the same surgery.

I had some work done earlier this year and the dentist himself arranged the followup appointment such that it would qualify for the same 'round' of treatment and I wouldn't have to pay a further fee. IIRC he said that any related treatment within six weeks of the original one would fall under the same fee.

The comment from the PCT means (I think) that you need to complain to the practice first of all. Then, if you don't get a satisfactory outcome, then you can complain the PCT. You can't go straight to the PCT without complaining to the practice first.

https://www.see-pct.nhs.uk/content/file/main/NHS%20Dentistry.pdf

swake

Sorry to hear you are having tooth pain. I know when its bad it is all you can think about. In no way am i defending them but my partner had a simular situation recently and was still experiencing a great deal of pain 7 days later after starting the anti biotics. You do have to give them a few days for them to start working. It may also be the case that you have an abcess in which case i would get back to the dentist and just have the tooth removed because no amount of anti biotics or pain killers could have cured mine.

You definitly have my sympathies though because I know how painfull it can be sometimes.

BTW nurofen wouldnt even scratch the pain i was in last time and taking too many can lead to further problems. Might be worth going to your gp and getting something stronger.

Hope you feel better soon.

Toothsmith

If you were going back to your practice, you'd be right.

But - as it was an emergency session at another practice you were trying to access, then a seperate £16.20 charge would be payable.

The thing that's probably not right here is that today isn't a bank holiday, so you shouldn't need to be accessing emergency care away from your own practice - your practice should have something better in place than another surgery 30m away.

Is the practice that's open part of the same group? Or owned by the same dentist(s)?

If so, then that is reasonable provision, but you shouldn't have to pay a seperate fee.

I would get yourself sorted, then take it up with your original practice.

Either they should have made better provision for a non-holiday working day, or if that was their provision, you shouldn't be charged.

But your complaint should be centred on the original practice, not the one providing the emergency care. They are applying the rules correctly.

pinkshoes

I'd go back to the same dentist, lie down on the carpet in the waiting room and howl in pain, putting off all the patients! I'm sure they'll make a space for you to be seen!!

Toothsmith

pinkshoes wrote: »

I'd go back to the same dentist, lie down on the carpet in the waiting room and howl in pain, putting off all the patients! I'm sure they'll make a space for you to be seen!!

You're assuming there that the dentist has to CARE about what other people think of him.

'Tis my view from reading these pages that an NHS dentist could roll in drunk, swear at the waiting room full of patients, do everything with no anaesthetic, take a leak in the sink, and still people would think they were 'lucky' to have an NHS dentist!

pinkshoes

Toothsmith wrote: »

You're assuming there that the dentist has to CARE about what other people think of him.

'Tis my view from reading these pages that an NHS dentist could roll in drunk, swear at the waiting room full of patients, do everything with no anaesthetic, take a leak in the sink, and still people would think they were 'lucky' to have an NHS dentist!

That's very true!

Although my old NHS dentist failed to pull a wisdom tooth out (and she couldn't get local anaesthetic to work either - I could feel everything!!), so after 20 mins of trying, she had to give up, and send me to a dental surgeon 20 miles away. I sat in the waiting room, waiting to be picked up, rather dizzy from numerous injections in my gum, and blood dripping from my mouth, and her patients were rather horrified! They even tried to get me to wait in another room, but I refused !

Sunnyday

Sorry to butt in here but i can`t seem to find what i am looking for

When registering for treatment at an NHS dentist is there as specific form to fill in or does each practice have their own type?

Hope someone can help.
Thanks

SD

Toothsmith

You don't really 'fill in' a form, you just sign an NHS form.

Sunnyday

Toothsmith wrote: »

You don't really 'fill in' a form, you just sign an NHS form.

Thanks if i remember rightly before treatment i was presented with a form to sign, i think i just needed my memory jogging

SD

mrposhman

pinkshoes wrote: »

That's very true!

Although my old NHS dentist failed to pull a wisdom tooth out (and she couldn't get local anaesthetic to work either - I could feel everything!!), so after 20 mins of trying, she had to give up, and send me to a dental surgeon 20 miles away. I sat in the waiting room, waiting to be picked up, rather dizzy from numerous injections in my gum, and blood dripping from my mouth, and her patients were rather horrified! They even tried to get me to wait in another room, but I refused !

I was told by an NHS dentist that I still had 4 wisdom teeth. I distinctly remember having one removed. It was an unpleasant experience at a teaching hospital. The "dentist" missed my gum with the first injection (squirting half down my throat, lovely) so proceeded to administer another (again squirting half down my throat, lovely taste by the way) and then decided to add a bit extra. An injection in the gum is unpleasant anyway, but 3 times is just fantastic!!

he then proceeded to try and pull it out (an upper easy one apparantly) ended up nearly ripping my cheek and only managed to snap it once the injection was wearing off. I decided to just grip the chair and bear it as I couldn't take another dose of anaesthetic down the throat.

Anyway, the NHS "dentist" apparantly said I hadn't had one removed (was quite adamant about it) so i went to anothert. Eventually the consultant told me it was gone but I need to have another 2 out!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

So these are coming out in March, better experience please, and please don't tell me they are still there!! :beer: