£515 for 4 fillings. Is this NHS dentist trying to rip him off?

enigma368

My bf received a copy of the referral letter yesterday which basically said "patient has small mouth and Dentist has tried to get in to where filling is needed but has been completely unable to do so and needs to refer it".

This is a complete lie though as he didn't even try and he was quite willing to do it as a composite filling if my boyfriend had agreed - i.e. pay for it to be done privately.

Seems that it was a slightly tricky filling and he just couldn't be bothered doing it on the NHS.

We are off on holiday for three weeks now so the complaint will have to wait till we are back. Lets hope his tooth is OK until then.

enigma368

So he got a reply from the Dental Hospital basically telling the Dentist that he(the Dentist) was mental to suggest that someone would be sent to a Dental Hospital for this kind of work

I will get him to file a full formal complaint about this whole thing to the PCT.

welshdent

I cant get people in to the dental hospital for work that IS justified let alone work that isnt. Half the time I cant get my letters past the office monkeys. No offence to office monkeys by the way!

enigma368

welshdent who would you recommend he complain to about this? I think he should push for a refund of his £48 for the way he has been treated although the dentist would prob offer to do the work rather than refund him and the last thing he wants to do is go back to the dentist.

brook2jack

You have to follow proceedure. First in writing to the practice manager keep it factual and your boyfriend needs to say they have lost confidence in the dentist . As you will probably not receive a satisfactory answer they should include in their reply which has to be within 14 days the name and address of who to escalate the complaint to at the pct. If not you can find the phone number of your local pct on google and phone for contact details for complaints. The pct will then walk you through the rest of the complaints process.

In the meantime your boyfriend needs to find a recommended dentist to get the work finished and regular treatment with a trusted dentist.

welshdent

re the £48 - thats a standard NHS charge and doesnt go to the dentist/practice directly. In addition he has had other work done too, all of which individually justify the charge regardless of the filling they wouldnt do. If the practice had any sense they would just do the filling under that course i.e. no additional charge.

FBaby

You need to inform the PCT. Ask to speak with the Lead Dental Commissioners. This is exactly the evidence that they need to hear (ie. those dentists who refer to hospital for treatment that doesn't warrant secondary care).

enigma368

Well in the meantime he rang the Dentist office to enquire about what to doregarding the letter from the Dental Hospital. The receptionist said she would find out and rang back just now to say:

"‘Ive spoken to the dentist and he doesn’t really know what to do, he suggests you go to another dentist as he cant carry out the work here"

It might be worth rembering the Dentist has previously said he would carry out the filling but only if he got it done in composite i.e. paid privately for it. So this work that "he cant carry out" would be more accurately described as work that is refusing to carry out on the NHS.

I am just astonisted by this whole thing.. Is it me or is this is beyond unprofessional?

brook2jack

Ask for them to confirm in writing they can't do the work and put copies of everything in with your complaint to pct.

If a dentist has taken a patient on for NHS treatment they are obliged to offer what secures dental health. They cannot say you need a filling but we can only do it privately , we cannot do anything on the NHS.

PALS (patient advice and liason service ) can also help you navigate the complaints system. In th meantime your boyfriend needs to find a dentist that has been recommended to finish treatment off.

enigma368

Update on complaint:

Dental manager(head Dentist) called and was very friendly. Said he was concerned by the complaint and would like my BF to come in for a second opinion. BF said he had lost faith in practice and would prefer to go elsewhere. Was immediately offered a full refund plus an extra £18 (£64ish total) for getting a consultation elsewhere.

Guess that ends that. Shoddy behaviour by original dentist but at least he got his money back and can hopefully go to somewhere more reputable to get the work completed.