NHS Hygienist

justme111

mal4mac wrote: »

We are all human, we all make mistakes, let us all help each other to get over those mistakes without "gaming" or snide comments.

P.S. I don't aim to "get the most from the system" I simply aim to get what the system is supposed to provide, according to its own guidelines.

Guidelines are lies. Please do not tell me you believe what politicians say. Or you believe them only when it is convenient ?
Well , the pie is small and you trying to get your piece while blaming dentists who are going to be working unpaid if you manage to get your piece of pie. All while putting on "save nhs " slogans.

brook2jack

Undervalued wrote: »

Indeed although I suspect everybody's idea of "very special circumstances" will be different.

Actually no they are very well defined, a patient who has been on bisphosphonate therapy or radiotherapy of the head and jaw area and is at high risk of developing a life threatening complication if a tooth is extracted is able to be referred .

brook2jack

mal4mac wrote: »

How do you come to that conclusion? I wouldn't vote for any politician who suggested this



I glanced at some figures recently and Britain was spending quite a low amount of GDP on health (9%) compared to Germany and France (about 12%) and USA (17%!) I'd vote for any politician who suggested taxing the better off (including myself!) until we reach 17%. Then root canals, implants, and the latest US cancer treatments, might not be out of the question on the NHS, and we could have "best clinical options" for all. We might also be able to afford more research.

Dentistry is not provided by the state in France or Germany. In France you have to have a dental insurance and co pay an amount , normally more than a NHS payment, in Germany you have to have insurance and payments in addition are far in excess of NHS dental payments in this country.

Implants are not covered under either system.

mal4mac

Undervalued wrote: »

I somehow doubt that any UK politician of any party will actually have the courage to say "vote for me and I will put your taxes up by enough to give the NHS 33% more funding".

The Labour party had he courage to take it from 0% to 9% of GDP post WWII, and that party defeated Churchill, perhaps the greatest war politician we ever had. Tories, of course, wouldn't do it, courageous or not. Blairites haven't the courage, or moral backbone. Corbyn might try something like this - with the poorest not paying, and the richest paying more.

Undervalued

mal4mac wrote: »

The Labour party had he courage to take it from 0% to 9% of GDP post WWII, and that party defeated Churchill, perhaps the greatest war politician we ever had. Tories, of course, wouldn't do it, courageous or not. Blairites haven't the courage, or moral backbone. Corbyn might try something like this - with the poorest not paying, and the richest paying more.

But they didn't.

Yes they introduced the NHS and that made healthcare available to all regardless of means. However, before then a substantial amount was being paid for healthcare by those that could afford it. Arguably the system was more like the pre Obama American model.

Given that before the NHS existed doctors, dentists, nurses etc were earning a living the money had to come from somewhere. Once the NHS started, the people who could afford healthcare before now had to pay tax / NI for fund the free for all system. Obviously some continued to pay for private treatment, just as they do now, but they too were entitled to "free" treatment and naturally many opted not to pay twice.

So, the whole 9% was not magically conjured up from nowhere. Much of it was money that was already being spend on health being re-directed with the choice taken away.

Now I am not suggesting that was wrong, just pointing out what actually happened.

owl_fan

I just went to my dentist for a check up. I have cancer and my teeth need to be kept healthy, but they are not top of my priorities list right now and I don't want to have cosmetic treatment done. I had the check up and the dentist recommended I see the hygienist, but didn't give me a scale and polish (as my previous dentist always did) and didn't explain that the hygienist was a private appointment, costed at £51. I didn't read the form properly at the dentist.

I came home and read the treatment plan properly, realised what was happening and cancelled the appointment. I am not happy about being recommended for private treatment without this being explained properly, when I understand that even if I needed more extensive treatment I would be offered it on the NHS. Evidently my dentist didn't think I needed my teeth scaling or she could have done that on the NHS at no extra cost. I will probably go back to this dentist next year for another check up, but I have lost some confidence in her. I had to leave my previous dentist because I had to move to have my cancer treatment.

Toothsmith

I don't want to look like I'm just scoring points here - but having to move to get your treatment shows that the National Health Service is NOT National (but based on postcode) NOT to do with health - but controlling money - and is not really a Service either!

In Dentistry that comes out in restricting what is available on the NHS by having a severely underfunded service and leaving it to the dentist to sail close to the wind by telling patients what is and isn't 'available' on the NHS by what is 'necessary' for oral health.

What is strictly 'necessary' probably isn't the same as what would be beneficial to you through the challenges your body will face undergoing cancer treatments though - and if the dentist has said it would be beneficial to you - then I would just pay for it and get it done. The mouth can get very sore & dry during some chemo and some radio therapies depending on where the cancer is and which treatments are used. Plus - infections around the mouth could prejudice your general health if they occur.

You have found in having to move for your treatment that the NHS is a long way from perfect. The same is true with NHS dentistry. Go with what you are recommended by your dentist rather than sticking rigidly to what the NHS will allow you.

Pop_Up_Pirate

I think its about time that all dentistry was taken off the NHS.

lush_walrus

Pop_Up_Pirate wrote: »

I think its about time that all dentistry was taken off the NHS.

Yep I agree, people are educated sufficiently now to make their choice on whether to care properly for their teeth or not.

Toothsmith

I would agree too.

Take away the farce of what is & isn't available.

A service for kids Including orthodontics for more severe cases (as it is at the moment) and a basic service for truely vunerable adults.

For the rest - look after them, or pay to repair them, or pay for the nice plastic ones that don't rot and you just have to rinse them under a tap a few times a day!