root canal treatment - NHS and private costs & pros and cons

brook2jack

If the dentist is offering to do it themselves then this is not on , it should be offered on the nhs. If they feel it is beyond their competence because it is particularly difficult and have referred him to a specialist then in virtually every area this is only available privately.

POPPYOSCAR

brook2jack wrote: »

If the dentist is offering to do it themselves then this is not on , it should be offered on the nhs. If they feel it is beyond their competence because it is particularly difficult and have referred him to a specialist then in virtually every area this is only available privately.

Thanks.

Yes this is the cost for him to do it. He said it would be £600 if referred to a specialist.

My Oh is going to speak to the practice on monday.

brook2jack

If no sucess then contact the pct. It's a breach of nhs regs to refuse to do certain treatments on the nhs such as root treatment , then offer to do them yourself privately.

POPPYOSCAR

My OH has spoken to the practice today and the dentist he saw is not there today.They have said they need to speak to him.They also said that 'he may not have offered it under the NHS because he may not have had the funding'??.

I am myself annoyed with them as when he pointed out that I had told him it was covered under the NHS and he should not not have to pay for it they implied that I was annoyed and that was why he was ringing!! What a nerve!!

brook2jack

NHS dentists are only funded so many units of dental treatment each year. Unfortunately it is impossible to increase the number of units and the financial year finishes at the end of March. Many practices have to scale down treatment and appointments in March because of this. It's a ridiculous situation but dentists have a contractual obligation not go to over target and won't get paid for it.

if this was the case your husband should have been informed and he could have opted to have treatment started after April 1st when new financial year starts.

POPPYOSCAR

But we are in May!!! He saw dentist last friday 13th May.

brook2jack

In which case the funding issue is a red herring.

welshdent

At the risk of sounding inflammatory, if they are that keen not to do it then there is a fair indication that they are not very good at it. As a consequence, entitlement or not, does he want the job done or does he want the job done well? I know which option I would take

POPPYOSCAR

Oh yes they are keen to do it at a cost of over £300 but have told him it is not available under the NHS.

He is as you have pointed out rather dubious about going with them
for the treatment now in any event be it private or NHS.

It is quite a large practice and he always sees someone different but has been going there for years and has never had this problem before and he trusted the dentist when he told him he could not do it under the NHS,only privately.

He is now waiting for the practice manager to ring him back tomorrow
with an explanation.

POPPYOSCAR

The dentist has rung him today and said that it is not covered by the NHS as it is a wisdom tooth and to just have it taken out.Is that correct?