Private dentist - paying upfront.

pearl123

Hi
My dentist has started to ask for payment pre work or pre appointment. Either for the full fee or for half. I'm finding this rather strange as I've always paid on the day and never been late in paying. To me it comes across as rather money grabbing and distasteful.

You thoughts please.

Nile

pearl123 wrote: »

Hi
My dentist has started to ask for payment pre work or pre appointment. Either for the full fee or for half. I'm finding this rather strange as I've always paid on the day and never been late in paying. To me it comes across as rather money grabbing and distasteful.

You thoughts please.

I imagine that the dentist has other patients who either fail to turn up for an appointment or keep the dentist waiting for payment. Personally, I wouldn't have a problem paying upfront. I've got to pay so whether it's at the beginning or end of treatment makes no difference to me.

My dentist is wonderful and I count myself very lucky to be his patient.

Carrot007

Sounds like they are trying to skirt around that they are not allowed to charge for missed appointments to me. What do they say regarding missed appointments in this new policy?

Comms69

pearl123 wrote: »

Hi
My dentist has started to ask for payment pre work or pre appointment. Either for the full fee or for half. I'm finding this rather strange as I've always paid on the day and never been late in paying. To me it comes across as rather money grabbing and distasteful.

You thoughts please.

It's a private business and can do as it pleases.

brook2jack

A practice policy has to be applied to all , both good and bad attenders and good and bad payers.

The rising costs of providing dentistry have put severe pressure on both NHS and private practices.

A room in a private practice will cost £150 to £200 plus an hour to run, so every missed or late cancelled appointment costs real money as the running costs of the practice still have to be met.

The average practice has over 1000 hours of missed appointments a year.

Reminders and texts help a bit but the biggest factor cutting failure rates is the ability to charge for missed appointments. People who persistently miss appointments often don’t pay bills so the easiest way to cut failure rates is by asking for payment up front.

In times likes this keeping failed appointments to a minimum may be the difference in a practices financial viability.

This study is quite old and the figures are much worse now https://bda.org/dentists/policy-campaigns/research/workforce-finance/gp/Documents/failure_to_attend_research_2010.pdf

pearl123

brook2jack wrote: »

A practice policy has to be applied to all , both good and bad attenders and good and bad payers.

The rising costs of providing dentistry have put severe pressure on both NHS and private practices.

A room in a private practice will cost £150 to £200 plus an hour to run, so every missed or late cancelled appointment costs real money as the running costs of the practice still have to be met.

The average practice has over 1000 hours of missed appointments a year.

Reminders and texts help a bit but the biggest factor cutting failure rates is the ability to charge for missed appointments. People who persistently miss appointments often don’t pay bills so the easiest way to cut failure rates is by asking for payment up front.

In times likes this keeping failed appointments to a minimum may be the difference in a practices financial viability.

This study is quite old and the figures are much worse now https://bda.org/dentists/policy-campaigns/research/workforce-finance/gp/Documents/failure_to_attend_research_2010.pdf

Thank you. Very interesting.

pearl123

Carrot007 wrote: »

Sounds like they are trying to skirt around that they are not allowed to charge for missed appointments to me. What do they say regarding missed appointments in this new policy?

The used to charge you if you cancelled under 24 hours before an appointment. Not sure it that has also changed.

brook2jack

NHS dentists are not allowed to charge for failed or late cancelled appointments, private dentists can.

Most practices will have a 24 hour cancellation policy s it can be very difficult to fill an appointment with less than 24 hours notice particularly if it is a long appointment.

pearl123

Thank you for the replies.