Can dentists refuse NHS check up for existing patients?

AndyZ

Can dentists refuse an NHS check up for existing patients because their UDA (nhs payment) quota has run out? (I have been)

j.e.j.

Probably. Apparently they've got no obligation to their NHS patients after the course of treatment has finished. Does the UDA thing run on a yearly basis? If so could the check-up wait until the year starts again, I wonder.

brook2jack

Dentists who do nhs work are allocated a certain number of work units every year (April to April)(udas ). They cannot apply for any more if they are used up early and therefore they cannot see anymore patients on the nhs if all their allocation has been used up.

They can offer private appointments but would be breaking the terms of their nhs contracts by continuing to do nhs treatment once their allocation has run out. Not only would they receive no pay for the work (any payment made by patients has to be paid to the health authority)but would be in breach of contract.

It's a nonsensical problem but there is only a fixed amount of money available to be spent nhs dentistry each year.

As far as your check up if you ring the local health board/authority they will just direct you to a practice that still has some udas left. They do not think it important that you see your dentist as in the nhs in England and Wales there is no registration any more.

welshdent

AndyZ wrote: »

Can dentists refuse an NHS check up for existing patients because their UDA (nhs payment) quota has run out? (I have been)

Yes. Although its rather early to run out. Options are wait until April, See them privately or go somewhere else.

That said, there is no registration anyway so you are only existing because you have been there before. As far as the NHS is concerned you don't "belong" to the practice anyway.

AndyZ

Thanks for the answers, never realised how broken the system got in trying to fix yearly budgets!