NHS Dentistry Patient Information

Teerah

ashley0611 wrote:

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.

I believe the new contract applies to England and Wales only.

elliejane

bank_of_slate wrote:

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

Our practice has just gone private after more than 20 years of being almost solely NHS and we have had very few complaints and almost no agression from our 3500 patients, many of whom are signing up to the Denplan scheme we are recommending. They seem to know the score and understand the reasons for the dentist's decision.

It is sad though, as some patients who have been with us for a very long time feel they can't afford to pay privately. The new contract is not fair to patients or dentists though. Patients have been asking how much it will be for a private extraction and we have been telling them ONE simple private extraction is likely to be less than the new NHS charge, as ONE simple filling would be. I know the NHS price is the same for one filling as for ten, but if you go to the dentist regularly how often do you need to have ten fillings all at one go?

The new contract seems to be the one area of the NHS where people are encouraged to neglect their (dental) health.

Does the government really want dentists to leave the NHS so they can spend the money on other aspects of the Health Service? By constantly harping on the £80,000 dentists who accept their contracts are likely to earn are they trying to put the blame on the 'greedy' dentists who are leaving the NHS in droves (and they are).

Is this part of a plan, I wonder?

Toothsmith

An excellent article from THE TIMES

Toothsmith

And THE SUNDAY TIMES

Dora_the_Explorer_5

Thanks TS - I think the penny will drop for most people when they try and make their next appointment. I don't know yet which way my practice will jump. The PCT that funds it also funds the local hospital trust which has one of the biggest deficits in the country and the practice is sited next to one of the most deprived wards in the country. We live in strange times.

Toothsmith

The Dental Money is allegedly 'ring fenced' for 3 years. This is wonderful managementspeak for 'it can't be spent on anything else'.

One of the reasons so many dentists are deciding to bail now is because it is ONLY ring fenced for 3 years. God knows what will happen after that.

Dentistry or cancer treatment - you decide!!!!

loopy_lou_5

At my dentist they told me that they 'don't do dentures on the NHS' does this mean they will have to after 1st April????

Dora_the_Explorer_5

Yeah, and we all know that nhs fences have gaps !

Toothsmith

loopy_lou wrote:

At my dentist they told me that they 'don't do dentures on the NHS' does this mean they will have to after 1st April????

If you are an NHS patient then you are entitled to all your treatment on the NHS. The dentist is breaking his terms of service by refusing to do certain things on the NHS. This is true now, and after April 1st.

The fact is that it will cost him more to provide a set of dentures on the NHS than he would get in fees for doing them, but it is still against the rules.

If you complained though, the likely outcome would be another dentist going fully private.

It is very sad when the only way the NHS can work is by selectively ignoring the rules. Part of the problem with the new contract is the rules are much tougher.

SparkyG

Have just been informed by my dental practice that they will be totally private from 1st April. A very comprehensive letter outlining their reasons, which are exactly as Toothsmith has stated.

One puzzling thing though: It states: "All current NHS registered children will continue to be treated on the NHS" Didn't think that was allowed?

I think my excellent practice (have been a private patient there for 6 years), must have some of the cheapest charges in the country!!! For example:

Check-up £15
Scale and polish £27
Composite fillings £58 - £88
Empress Veneers £310

Took my granddaughter there last month and was charged £6 (going up to £7 in April) for a child's check-up. Unbelievable!!!