NHS Dentistry No Longer Available For Children

Toothsmith

Rubbish

It happened because the mother fed the child far to much crap!

Health visitors (Another service being effectively scrapped at the moment) give diet advice, and all parents have access to these. Free.

This mother ignored the advice.

She was also 'late' for the appointment at the access centre.

Even if NHS dentists were plentiful, this lady would not have bothered to go until she was kept awake at night by her unfortunate kid screaming her head off.

As you said, it IS neglect to fail to look after childrens teeth.

Toothsmith

albertross wrote:

They still get money out of the NHS if I don't have a checkup don't they - money for nothing (nice work if you can get it).

Yep - the princely sum of 40p per month for the 15 months you're registered for!

That's 6 whole UK pounds!

Don't spend it all in the same shop!

Lara

Our dentist has advised he is going privately now. He promotes Denplan insurance at a cost of £15.95 each for me and two of our sons, £10.95 for another and husband £18.95. This is per month. We've declined and are looking for another NHS dentist. A lot of other people can't afford this.
Has anyone found a cheaper insurer?

BFG_2

Fraserca wrote:

Oh and BFG - I was referring to the high cost of non NHS treatment earlier. If you are going to scoff then at least read the postings. Thank you

Apologies if I offended your sensibilities, I was not scoffing.

I take it that you therefore agree that NHS charges are not too high?? (IMO they are way, way too low)

Sadly many people still think NHS dentisty is too expensive - "£9?? All she did was take out an old tooth"....sad.

I don't often hear people saying...." My auntie Betty just had an operation at the hoispital, and do you know how much it cost the NHS to perform it - £17,000; that's ridiculous, all they did was remove her infected kidney". When people have to put their hands in their own pocket they want private quality at NHS prices.

Sermon over ...must go and lie down:)

wendyl1967

To Toothsmith or anyone

I read the article in the paper and now this thread but I am still confused!

My husband and I left the country for about 2 1/2 years in the early 90's so we lost the right to NHS treatment at our dentists. I can't remember the reason but something to do with not visiting our dentist for over two years. It was hard finding another nhs dentist so we went to a local private one that was recommended by lots of friends. We have been going there for 14 years. When I was pregnant I was treated by him on the nhs. Both children 11 and 8 have always had free treatment on the NHS by him. I assume until they are 18.

Does this now mean that even if he wants to, he cannot treat them on the NHS unless he takes adults on the NHS although he does not want to. So either we pay or find another NHS dentist for them.

I hope that makes sense as I am a little confused. I haven't called my dentist yet?

thanks

Toothsmith

Possibly

Some Primary Care Trusts are allowing 'Child Only' NHS contracts, so that a dentist can carry on treating existing NHS patients on the NHS.

These places can only see their existing NHS patients though, as if they take on any new patients, then they have to see the full range of patients - adults, kids, fee payers and exempts. If they don't, they will fall foul of the 'discrimination' clauses in the new contract.

Some PCTs are not allowing kids only contracts though, and so the dentist has to make the decision to see all patients on the NHS or none. (So that's a really hard decision then!!)

Your dentist should be able to give you an idea by now as to their intentions, but a lot of PCTs are very behind on getting this up and running. Contracts SHOULD be signed by the end of this month. They are 137 pages long though, and take some wading through. Many dentists don't even have them yet. (Mine arrived yesterday!)