Fined by Dentist

calleyw

DrGrimson wrote:

...but she didn't know she was going to be late.
She thought the appointment was 30 mins later than the dentist did.
This is why I think it is unfair.

Do you not get an appointment card when you make the appointment unless it was done down the phone. Because I do and even carry it with me to the appointment so they can write my new appointment on and save a little money.

But I do think there should be have been warning and then if she did it again then charge her.


Yours


Calley

yellow_dog

Can I fine the dentist? Had a date for an afternoon followup appointment but couldn`t remember whether it was 3.15 or 3.3. Had organised to take time off work, rang on morning of appointment to see what time appt was to be told it had been cancelled, dentist off work and they had been trying to get in touch with me. They had my home number which has answer service and my mobile number.
No calls received and no messages!

BFG_2

People who fail to keep appointments cost the NHS (you and me) an enormous amount of money every year............Some PCTs (Health Authorities as was) actually suggest to dentists that they deliberately overbook the number of patients so that if someone doesn't turn up they don't lose money; of course it means that everyone is kept waiting 45 mins before being seen; people wait 4 hours for an A&E nurse, or 18 weeks for a specialist appt, why shouldn't they wait for a dentist - it works in Russia, what's wrong with using it here?.......Welcome to the NHS!!!!!!!!!!

LondonDiva

I agree with fining patients when they are late or don't turn up.

You should have heard the howls of anguish in PCT's when we read that patients could miss appts with no penalties. Lots of responses to the consultation pointed out the wasted appts when people are late and do not turn up in other parts of the service. In fact, I was hoping that charging for missed appts would be introduced in GP surgeries then rolled out into the wider NHS.- for example I know of a GP who until they took a 2 strikes & you're out policy with 17 days worth of missed appts a month and a pct service with 500 new referrals a month, but 3-400 missed appts a month (with the same people moaning that there are unreasonable delays in getting the service).

The dentist is one area where people have always turned up come hell or high water because it hits the pocket rather than oh it doesn't matter.

BFG_2

razorbladekisses wrote:

I remember a couple of years ago when I was unfortunately sick on the morning of my dentist appointment. I called the dentist as soon as they opened (9am) but was told that because I didn't give 24 hours notice that I would be fined :mad: like I actually chose to be ill. I couldn't have phoned any earlier.

[
[If you had theatre tickets, or an cheapo flight or cinema seats booked for that day (and paid for in advance) would you have expected to get a refund on them??
[
[The theatre and cinema are unlikely to have been able to sell your seat at short notice ...and as for the cheapo airlines.
[
[The same can be said for some restaurants, hairdressers, etc.
[
[Similarly the dentist would not have been paid if you didn't turn up.

Zziggi

I personally think it is OK for Dentists to charge patients who miss appointments (especially if they repeatedly miss appointments). However what gets me is that I usually wait a MINIMUM of 1 hour after my appointment time. I don't think i have ever been less than 30 mins waiting ever. I even book 9am or 2pm appointments thinking that if i am at the start of the day or straight after lunch then the Dentist won't have managed to collect a backlog. Doesn't work. I am there at 9am and STILL and up waiting at least 30 mins. Mainly because the Dentist books about 5 people in for 9am, then another few for 9.10am etc etc so a backlog is easily formed. I now turn up at 8.50 for a 9am appointment and on arrival politely ask if there is a long wait as i have another medical appointment to attend shortly after the dentist. Doesn't make a blind bit of difference.

If i was fined then i would object simply because of the hours i have spent waiting for the dentist. However in principle i think dentist should be able to fine patients just to teach them a small lesson that they can't just fail to turn up. If GPs & hospitals did the same maybe there'd be less missed appointments? However i think discussing that would open up another can of worms.

Toothsmith

I think you need to look around for a new dentist.

Not only is he taking the p**** a bit here, but how good and thorough can a check up possibly be in the time he actually has to do it once you're in the chair!

Plus, you'll have to find a new dentist anyway when he drops down dead with a coronary.


P.S. As BFG mentioned earlier, this double or triple booking appointment times is the way PCTs are actually encouraging NHS dentists to operate now that they are no longer allowed to charge Failed appointment fines.

Zziggi

Toothsmith wrote:

I think you need to look around for a new dentist.

Not only is he taking the p**** a bit here, but how good and thorough can a check up possibly be in the time he actually has to do it once you're in the chair!

Plus, you'll have to find a new dentist anyway when he drops down dead with a coronary.

wish I could but it is impossible to get a NHS dentist anywhere nearby. Absolutely impossible. I have friends and relatives who have moved away and STILL come back to this guy because of the probs.. One friend lives near Heathrow and comes up here (err like 300 miles) and a relative lives 2 hours drive away. I think deep down he thinks he is doing everyone a favour by cramming them in and giving them appointments because everyone is clammering for him to see them. Nobody complains abotu the waiting times. Nobody DARES complain because they fear they'd be chucked off his list and then they really would be up !!!!!! creek without a paddle.

Credit to him tho' i do think he is pretty thorough. I have had an ongoing problem and hehas been asking me to go back 3-weekly for a while now to monitor the problem. He could have easily told me what to do and told me to bu88er off for 6 months. He certainally isn't perfect but i do respect him and i do think he is trying to do a good job while being swamped by patients all needing dentistry services.

Toothsmith

Zziggi wrote:

One friend lives near Heathrow and comes up here (err like 300 miles) and a relative lives 2 hours drive away.

Have they ever sat down and thought about this?

300 miles each way is going to be £50-60 in petrol. Plus wear & tear on the car. It will be at least a whole day job, which would mean a days holiday from work. How much value does he/she put on their own time?

What if they had some problem that needed several visits? or 3 weekly recalls?

If they looked around at home, I'm sure they'd find a dentist operating in the private sector who would be streets ahead of their experience with this guy, for not a lot extra expense when travel was added to the NHS fees.

Zziggi wrote:

I think deep down he thinks he is doing everyone a favour by cramming them in and giving them appointments because everyone is clammering for him to see them.

No - he will be making a mint servicing an NHS contract that is far too big for one dentist to safely operate. He has no thought to customer service, and when do you think he has time to ensure he is complying with all relavent safety regulations?

If several people are booked ino the same appointment slot, how much time can be spent in between patients making sure that everything is cleaned in line with cross-infection control guidelines?

He is playing on peoples fear of 'expensive' private dentistry whilst probably making more money than any private dentist doing it properly.

Zziggi wrote:

Nobody complains abotu the waiting times. Nobody DARES complain because they fear they'd be chucked off his list and then they really would be up !!!!!! creek without a paddle.

Because they would have to look around for a proper dentist operating in a safer and more ethical way?

Zziggi wrote:

Credit to him tho' i do think he is pretty thorough. I have had an ongoing problem and hehas been asking me to go back 3-weekly for a while now to monitor the problem. He could have easily told me what to do and told me to bu88er off for 6 months. He certainally isn't perfect but i do respect him and i do think he is trying to do a good job while being swamped by patients all needing dentistry services.

Maybe if he had a bit more time, he could fix the problem?

Being an NHS dentist is no defense against providing poor treatment, so he HAS to look after you if he can see a problem - he is not doing you any favours!

I do feel very sorry for this guy, and I'm sure he is doing his best in very difficult circumstances.

What he is doing strikes me as unsustainable at best, and dangerous at worst.

Something will have to give here soon.

He will either have serious health issues, or he will make a serious mistake and people will suffer.

Look around Zziggi. I'm sure there will be a good private place that would suit your pocket OK and a place where you will not be treated like cattle.

Zziggi

Toothsmith wrote:

Have they ever sat down and thought about this?

300 miles each way is going to be £50-60 in petrol. Plus wear & tear on the car. It will be at least a whole day job, which would mean a days holiday from work. How much value does he/she put on their own time?

What if they had some problem that needed several visits? or 3 weekly recalls?

If they looked around at home, I'm sure they'd find a dentist operating in the private sector who would be streets ahead of their experience with this guy, for not a lot extra expense when travel was added to the NHS fees.




No - he will be making a mint servicing an NHS contract that is far too big for one dentist to safely operate. He has no thought to customer service, and when do you think he has time to ensure he is complying with all relavent safety regulations?

If several people are booked ino the same appointment slot, how much time can be spent in between patients making sure that everything is cleaned in line with cross-infection control guidelines?

He is playing on peoples fear of 'expensive' private dentistry whilst probably making more money than any private dentist doing it properly.




Because they would have to look around for a proper dentist operating in a safer and more ethical way?



Maybe if he had a bit more time, he could fix the problem?

Being an NHS dentist is no defense against providing poor treatment, so he HAS to look after you if he can see a problem - he is not doing you any favours!

I do feel very sorry for this guy, and I'm sure he is doing his best in very difficult circumstances.

What he is doing strikes me as unsustainable at best, and dangerous at worst.

Something will have to give here soon.

He will either have serious health issues, or he will make a serious mistake and people will suffer.

Look around Zziggi. I'm sure there will be a good private place that would suit your pocket OK and a place where you will not be treated like cattle.

Definitely food for thought ToothSmith. Thanks