NHS scotland Dentist cancellation fees

wealdroam

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I get that someone ie the taxpayer is paying for my 'free' check-up but it seems on an individual basis strange that it costs more to not go than to go!

You seem to be suggesting that the taxpayer should pick up the bill whether or not the prospective patient attends or not?

To me, it's that that seems strange.

charlotte661

Toothsmith wrote: »

I would ask the same question I asked on the thread from a couple of years ago.

How often does this happen for you?

If you are a regular non-attender/late canceler, then they are more likely to get fed up of you and apply a fee than if you have only had this happen the once.

If you've never been late/cancelled late or missed an appointment then I think it would be quite harsh to apply this fee fully for a first offence.

this is the first time ive had to cancel an appointment and ive never missed one always been early or bang on time ive been with the dentist for about 2 years now.

I was expecting to pay something like £25 not £70 all that I was getting done was a chip filled in at the front of my tooth.

charlotte661

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I get that someone ie the taxpayer is paying for my 'free' check-up but it seems on an individual basis strange that it costs more to not go than to go! They charge £1 per minute so a reoutine check-up of 10 minutes is £10 and my friend was charged when delayed by a car accident when she got there a few minutes late and had never missed before. We are e-mailed on making the appointment, and a few days before to remind us.

yes it is costing me wayyy more to not go than if I had gone which I don't get.

I think sure charge if the patient hasn't turned up or cancels late like in my case but 70 is abit extreme IMO. for something that cant be helped.

bod1467

Might have been better to turn up THEN advise them you are feeling sick. But hindsight is a wonderful thing.

charlotte661

bod1467 wrote: »

Might have been better to turn up THEN advise them you are feeling sick. But hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I was feeling and being sick. don't think any dentist would like to have their face in firing range if I was just feeling sick I would of ate something and gone.

Torry_Quine

jacques_chirac wrote: »

Work out the costs involved in providing that service - £1 a minute is a bargain

brook2jack wrote: »

£1 a minute doesn't even begin to cover the costs of running a practice. One room/surgery in a cheap nhs practice in a cheap area will cost upwards of £120 an hour to run.

So even paying the fine will not cover a practices expenses.

wealdroam wrote: »

You seem to be suggesting that the taxpayer should pick up the bill whether or not the prospective patient attends or not?

To me, it's that that seems strange.

Thankfully I've never had to cancel an appointment at the last minute so have never personally paid. I fully accept that there are costs whether a patient is seen or not but think a bit of discretion if this is the first time and someone who comes regularly.

By the way it's a modern state-of-the-art practice which is private and NHS.

Torry_Quine

charlotte661 wrote: »

yes it is costing me wayyy more to not go than if I had gone which I don't get.

I think sure charge if the patient hasn't turned up or cancels late like in my case but 70 is abit extreme IMO. for something that cant be helped.

That does seem excessive to me, how long was your appointment?

charlotte661

Torry_Quine wrote: »

That does seem excessive to me, how long was your appointment?

my appointment was about 20 mins I think. still waiting for them to phone me back but i guess i just got to pay the charge.

Toothsmith

charlotte661 wrote: »

this is the first time ive had to cancel an appointment and ive never missed one always been early or bang on time ive been with the dentist for about 2 years now.

I was expecting to pay something like £25 not £70 all that I was getting done was a chip filled in at the front of my tooth.

If it was an appointment for treatment, then it would be a longer appointment than for an examination - hence the high charge.

But it does still seem to be a bit much for someone who's usually a good attender.

Is it a 'chain' practice? They tend to provide a lot of NHS treatment nowadays. If it's a chain, with a centralised 'management', then they probably have less flexible policies on these sort of things than practices owned by the treating dentist.

Plus - with NHS dental care - there is always someone willing to fill your place if you go elsewhere (If you can find an elsewhere) So customer service loyalty and goodwill is not something they need to sweat over usually.