Does anyone understand NHS dentist charges?

chriiiiiiiis

I'm confused about NHS dentist charges.

My girlfriend visited her dentist about 6 weeks ago. She had toothache. Her dentist prescribed her antibiotics, referred her to a dental hospital, and charged her £16.50.

She attended the appointment at the dental hospital yesterday, who weighed her! took her bloodpressure! told her to come back in two weeks for a filling and charged her another £16.50.

When she goes back for the filling, she has been told that it will cost £45.60.

Does anyone know if this is correct? The Department for Health website states:

If you are not exempt from charges, you should pay one of the following charges for each course of treatment you receive:[FONT=Times New Roman,Times][FONT=Times New Roman,Times]
[/FONT][/FONT]Band 1 course of treatment – £16.50
[FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light][FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light]This covers an examination, diagnosis (e.g. X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if needed, and application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealants. If you require urgent care, even if your urgent treatment needs more than one appointment to complete, you will only need to pay one Band 1 charge.
[/FONT][/FONT]Band 2 course of treatment – £45.60 [FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light][FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light]This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or if your dentist needs to take out one or more of your teeth.[/FONT][/FONT]

Are they trying to pull a fast one? We'll be straight on the phone if they are.

System

I would say that the 2 dental hospital appointments should be classed as 1 course of treatment so the cost should only be £46.50 altogether. I'm not sure whether her dentist's initial examination should be included in this or not as this still falls under a single course of treatment.

To me it sounds like somebody is pulling a fast one or does not correctly understand the charging structure. It's per course of treatment and not appointment.

welshdent

They aren't te same course - certainly not the 1st £16 and third 42. Not sure why the 2nd was done though. You mentioned the dental
hospital - was this a different place? Weighing etc sounds bizarre to
me!

Toothsmith

Is she a 'large' lady?

There is a maximum weight the chairs can stand - but it's about 25st.

brook2jack

Weighing, bp normal though if doing sedation for instance. Very very lucky to be getting it done so quickly. 6months plus wait locally for dental hospital just for first appointment.

alison999

The hospital is a different place so they are right to charge again it is NOT the same course of treatment however the 2nd £16.50 should be taken off the £45.60 that she pays next time.

Also as its already been said weighing, bp are normal if doing sedation/g.a so they know how much anestetic (sp?) she'll need.

Instead of going in all guns blazing why not just ask? Maybe the receptionist wasnt sure so she just quoted the full £45.60 just in case? Ive done that before myself - Id rather over estimate than under estimate.

jugglebug

Taking BP is seen as routine in some countries, USA particularly.
Some dentists do it here, it isn't actually a bad idea but for some reason patients don't like it. Odd really as it can do no harm and there will be some folks walking around with undiagnosed problems to never go to their GP, but do go to the dentist regularly. These folks would have a positive benefit.

welshdent

We are at the moment assuming that the patient has been referred for sedation. ... what dental hospitals are charging now? I wasnt aware they were? I can honestly say I have never weighed any of my patients LOL

brook2jack

All hospitals and community dentists can charge NHS charges and I think it's going to become much more widespread. Community locally have started charging but by far the largest debt the local health authority has is from dental patients who have not paid for treatment.

I know of at least 3 hospitals which levy NHS charges at their emergency walk in clinics though not sure about routine treatment.

welshdent

Ah ok. Not happening in wales to my knowledge so maybe just an england thing?