Wasn't made aware my dental appointment was private, and feel I'm being unfairly billed for it

Lokolo

Vashetti wrote: »

Why would I think I would have to pay for it? My entire time at the practice I have been on benefits and unemployed. All of my treatment up to that point had been covered by the NHS, I had no idea I was booking a private appointment, and wasn't made aware of that until after I had had the treatment.

All of your treatments had been covered by the NHS, however the NHS treatments DO COST MONEY. They were only free for you because of your circumstances.

It is up to you to know what things will cost under NHS, it is not free just because it is NHS.

You should still be charged the Band 1 cost, £22.70, if you are no longer exempt.

However I do agree that you should not pay the private cost as a polish comes under the Band 1 cost which should be covered in the £22.70.

Toothsmith

It is right that they should have made you aware that this was a private charge. They should have told you, and there should been the NHS form detailing what was NHS (with the charge, if any) and what was private, with that charge.

You have got good grounds for a complaint, so I would write back to them repeating that you had not been told that the hygienist was private, and you had been given no written treatment plan detailing the costs. (All the other stuff about your circumstances is irrelevant - so just keep the letter to the point)

Say that you would like to make this an official complaint, and receive a copy of their complaints policy ( which should have details of places you can take your complaint to if you are not satisfied with their handling of it, like the GDC or NHS).

They should respond to this acknowledging the complaint within 5 days, and give you a proper considered response within a few more days (I can't remember exact timing off the top of my head, but it's not long)

The only defence they could have is if they have documented evidence that you were told the charge and that it was private. If they can't do that, they really should let you off the charge, and it shouldn't affect your registration at the practice.

sheramber

Details of how to make a complaint ab out service from an NHS dentist in Wales

https://www.wales.nhs.uk/ourservices/findannhsdentist/howtomakeacomplaintaboutannhsdentist

elsien

I think there is some confusion going on here - your dental treatment may or may not be chargeable under the NHS depending on your benefits/circumstances and that has not changed. Your dentist is probably still NHS.
However the hygienists are always private - they are usually recommended where there is a bit of staining, or for a deeper clean, but where the dentist doesn't think it falls under the clinically necessary category for them to do it.
That's the bit that should have been explained to you, so you need to make a formal complaint.

onwards&upwards

_shel wrote: »

No matter what the dentist did how why did you believe you would still be entitled to nhs treatment? You must have known you'd have to pay for it?

Everyone is entitled to NHS dental treatment.

[Deleted User]

onwards&upwards wrote: »

Everyone is entitled to NHS dental treatment.

Not everyone is entitled to free NHS treatment

onwards&upwards

_shel wrote: »

Not everyone is entitled to free NHS treatment

No, but that’s not what the post I was replying to said.