Can a NHS dentist just remove me from their list!?

Errata

I suggest the allegations of feeling 'harassed' etc. is merely a defensive tactic to make out that I am a 'troublemaker' in order to justify his actions. I suggest he is overplaying things to put it mildly.

You can suggest that, but it doesn't make it so. If someone feels harassed, they feel harassed. You can't control another person's feelings about something.

JasonBat

Errata wrote: »

You can suggest that, but it doesn't make it so. If someone feels harassed, they feel harassed. You can't control another person's feelings about something.

It would certainly be most convenient if that was the case.

I'm not quite sure how asking for clarity as to why he took it upon himself to suggest the client/dentist relationship had broken down together with simply asking for a digital copy of an x-ray which I am perfectly entitled to amounts to harassment.

welshdent

Genuinely I think you should think long hard and clearly before going to the gdc. I appreciate you are angry but they do not have any power to address your concerns. All they would do is conduct an extremely expensive investigation in to the dentist at every other dentists expense and come to a decision that Will not get you anything you are looking for leaving you more frustrated and us paying even more than the now £890 a year registration. Go to the practice manager. If that doesn't work contact pals. I'm sure guides will be online. If the dentist genuinely is up to no good they can refer on to the gdc. The purpose of the gdc is to protect the pupublic by regulation and setting standards. They will not track down x rays and give tell you if your x rays have been doctored.

JasonBat

welshdent wrote: »

Genuinely I think you should think long hard and clearly before going to the gdc. I appreciate you are angry but they do not have any power to address your concerns. All they would do is conduct an extremely expensive investigation in to the dentist at every other dentists expense and come to a decision that Will not get you anything you are looking for leaving you more frustrated and us paying even more than the now £890 a year registration. Go to the practice manager. If that doesn't work contact pals. I'm sure guides will be online. If the dentist genuinely is up to no good they can refer on to the gdc. The purpose of the gdc is to protect the pupublic by regulation and setting standards. They will not track down x rays and give tell you if your x rays have been doctored.

Not much thought needs to be given. It is fairly clear to me that this particular dentist thinks he could do without the hassle my condition brings him together with some uncertainty.

To make matters worse this dentist has added insult to injury accusing me of being a nuisance and making the practice staff feel 'uncomfortable' (clutching at straws though I suspect).

I've requested advice from the GDC and they said they could investigate it. The also said I could have an NHS complaint running concurrently.

I sense the practice manager is not keen to get involved as I have copied her into the correspondence and heard not a peep from her.

Also, she hasn't bothered returning my calls etc.

JasonBat

Also. I don't really think £50 is reasonable to charge someone for copying a single x-ray on a USB drive.

Presumably that only takes plugging the device into the front of the PC and performing a few mouse clicks.

Errata

This has become quite a lengthy thread, and TBH I no longer understand what you're complaint is. I'll leave you to get on with it.

JasonBat

Errata wrote: »

This has become quite a lengthy thread, and TBH I no longer understand what you're complaint is. I'll leave you to get on with it.

Indeed. Thanks Errata.

Apollonia

JasonBat wrote: »

Also. I don't really think £50 is reasonable to charge someone for copying a single x-ray on a USB drive.

Presumably that only takes plugging the device into the front of the PC and performing a few mouse clicks.

Not as easy as that, especially if the practice is part of a chain. Someone from IT (which probably means travelling to the practice from head office) would have to allow access for the unknown USB drive, check it for any malware/viruses etc before the dentist would be able to download the image to it.
If it were me, I would also look into somehow locking the image so it couldn't be 'photo-shopped' or otherwise tampered with once it left my control.

If the practice is not part of a chain and doesn't have dedicated IT help then they will be seeking advice from their indemnity insurers and implementing that advice.

All of this will take time and time needs to be paid for.

ETA: the dentist in question is likely to have already been in touch with his indemnity insurer whether part of a chain or not. People are so quick to raise official complaints these days over trivial matters, taking legal advice once we are aware a patient is even slightly unhappy is the only way to go. So that probably happened as soon as your dentist was made aware of your complaint against the consultant.

JasonBat

Apollonia wrote: »

Not as easy as that, especially if the practice is part of a chain. Someone from IT (which probably means travelling to the practice from head office) would have to allow access for the unknown USB drive, check it for any malware/viruses etc before the dentist would be able to download the image to it.
If it were me, I would also look into somehow locking the image so it couldn't be 'photo-shopped' or otherwise tampered with once it left my control.

If the practice is not part of a chain and doesn't have dedicated IT help then they will be seeking advice from their indemnity insurers and implementing that advice.

All of this will take time and time needs to be paid for.

ETA: the dentist in question is likely to have already been in touch with his indemnity insurer whether part of a chain or not. People are so quick to raise official complaints these days over trivial matters, taking legal advice once we are aware a patient is even slightly unhappy is the only way to go. So that probably happened as soon as your dentist was made aware of your complaint against the consultant.

I see. Thanks. I doubt there is any way to prevent photoshopping because if I would be able to view the image I would be able to edit it in Photoshop.

Might be easier and cheaper for him to just put in on a CD/DVD then as they are hardly expensive. No virus check needed though if I provided him with an empty USB device and then I doubt the virus check would take longer than 2 seconds.

Is such functionality not built into the software the dentist use these days? If not, they are using really poorly featured software as I imagine x-rays are their bread and butter so to speak.

How do I find out if he is part of a chain?

I think he did indeed run off to his union, the Dental Defense Union, and mentioned this in one of his letters. Presumably he has just been waiting for any 'excuse' to get rid of me.

I'm also not sure how he can just refuse me entry into the practice as presumably he is just an employee of the practice or it that just standard 'good' practice in these circumstances?

Errata

FGS if your consultant needs to see the x-rays, ask them to request them from the dental practice.