NHS Dentistry Patient Information

comping_cat

So from the 1st April, anyone who wants to see an NHS dentist can just ring their nearest one and request an appointment!!!! I guess by 2nd April the majority of NHS dentists will have turned private!!!!
Its the governments way of getting rid of all of us who dont have NHS dentists, as we all will have now - except that we might have the dentist, but wont be able to get an appointment as they will be inundated. Wonderful!!!!!!! :wall:

Dora_the_Explorer_5

B****r Rosie - she's a b****y pest. In my unhumble opininion.

Nothing about oral health promotion? Umpteen fillings for peanuts? Replacement set of choppers for the price of a few packets of fags? PCT's will cough up enough the cash - yeah right. Rosie has nicely set this up to fail, what's the hidden agenda?

I'm fed up to the back teeth (minus my ul8, ur8, ll8,lr8 ) with this government's incompetence in all areas of health particularly when I read today it's costing DOH £600,000 A DAY NOT to start the Barts hospital new build :eek: :eek: :eek:

Thanks for the headsup Toothsmith, I'd tear my hair out by the roots about the DOH, except I've had sight of the NHS wigs !!

comping_cat

Dora_the_Explorer wrote:

B****r Rosie - she's a b****y pest. In my unhumble opininion.

Nothing about oral health promotion? Umpteen fillings for peanuts? Replacement set of choppers for the price of a few packets of fags? PCT's will cough up enough the cash - yeah right. Rosie has nicely set this up to fail, what's the hidden agenda?

I'm fed up to the back teeth (minus my ul8, ur8, ll8,lr8 ) with this government's incompetence in all areas of health particularly when I read today it's costing DOH £600,000 A DAY NOT to start the Barts hospital new build :eek: :eek: :eek:

Thanks for the headsup Toothsmith, I'd tear my hair out by the roots about the DOH, except I've had sight of the NHS wigs !!

I couldnt agree more, if i didnt come on this website i wouldntve known any of this, and i read the papers and watch the news, funny how the government arnt shouting this from the rooftops if its such a good thing!!!!!! Guess they know that its one big !!!! up!!!!!

Toothsmith

catowen wrote:

So from the 1st April, anyone who wants to see an NHS dentist can just ring their nearest one and request an appointment!!!! I guess by 2nd April the majority of NHS dentists will have turned private!!!!
Its the governments way of getting rid of all of us who dont have NHS dentists, as we all will have now - except that we might have the dentist, but wont be able to get an appointment as they will be inundated. Wonderful!!!!!!! :wall:

The best summary of the current situation I have read!!!

Go to the top of the class! :iloveyou:

bank_of_slate

I have to add that all the dental practices that I work with ALL the staff are very nervous about the changes and are very worried about explaining it to the patients, especially the receptionists who have to put up with violence and aggression on a daily basis!

There was a 'consultation period' for the changes which was more or less underground as Rosie Winterton's statement on the 7.7.05 was completely forgotton as the news of the terrorists attacks in London broke.

However you feel about the changes, please remember that it is NOT the receptionist's fault, any members of the public displaying aggression towards dental staff will not be tolerated.
...Linda xxx

Tajak1000

catowen wrote:

So does this mean, that if you do not have an NHS dentist at the moment, as all the NHS dentists in your area have stopped taking new patients, that they now have no list, and will see all NHS patients, providing they can get an appointment??? This would be good for me, as there are no NHS dentists in my area taking new people on (if you can get an appointment!!!), but how can that be worked with regards to patients records!!!???

NHS dentist closed their lists because they were full. Most operate waiting lists, a place on which is by referal by an exisitng patient of the practice only. The new contract will not improve access because:

• thousans of kids are about to lose thier NHS dentist because their dentists will no longer be allowed to see them
• At least 30% of exisitng NHS dentist will leave the system
• The increased number of new dentists being trained won't be in the system for another five years
• Many of the overseas dentist recruited by the DOH are leaving after finding working conditions intolerable
• Dentists have the same rights in the new contract as to who they treat as they do now.
• There will be plenty of access centres, which cost 20 times more to treat patients than exisitng NHS dentists
• The money for dentists will come from Primary Care Trusts, many of which are close to bankruptcy
• In three years, the money for dentistry can technically be spent on whatever the Primary Care Trust (PCT) wants - so will it be spent on teeth or a short fall in Cancer care?

So in answer to your question, no you won't find it any easier to find an NHS dentist. My PCT has verbally told me not to take any more patient on as they don't have the money.

It's a farce, and it will be the general public who will suffer.

cubegame

What are the implications of this for someone (me) who's just registered for an NHS dentist?

It's not a problem to find one in my area of the South East so I registered and got an appointment within 3 weeks.

Am I going to cease to be registered in just over a month?

Am I going to turn up, have a check up and then be offered the choice of a private plan or nothing?

And one final question, am I right in thinking that if my course of treatment starts BEFORE the 1st April (with my check up on March 15th) it will go to it's completion under the old charging system?

Teerah

cubegame wrote:

What are the implications of this for someone (me) who's just registered for an NHS dentist?

It's not a problem to find one in my area of the South East so I registered and got an appointment within 3 weeks.

Am I going to cease to be registered in just over a month?

Am I going to turn up, have a check up and then be offered the choice of a private plan or nothing?

And one final question, am I right in thinking that if my course of treatment starts BEFORE the 1st April (with my check up on March 15th) it will go to it's completion under the old charging system?

Hi cubegame, the only place to find the answers to these questions is actually to contact your dental practice. They are the only ones who can tell you if they are signing up to the new contract or not. In either case, you will no longer be "registered" as this will cease to be under the new regulations.

LondonDiva

My PCT and the neighbouring couple have yet to finish signing their dental contract.

I can't believe they're not allowing charging for missed appts, missed appts are so out od control that I was hoping it would be extended to other NHS services like GPs and hospitals

ashley0611

Does anyone please have a link on how Scotland will be affected by this change. I visited my dentist today (NHS) and have been quoted £340 - £380 for 4 crowns to be carried out. I am now a bit confused and feel a bit hard done by.