Should dental practices/plans be giving compensation for cancelling routine treatments?

joeblogs51

brook2jack2 said:

This saving will be about 70p per person per month. However it will help with practice finances 

Is it really that small? Would their hygienist wage bill be significant per month?

brook2jack2

Hygienists are , for the most part , not paid a wage , they are self employed. They will be paid an amount for each patient seen. A general surgery (room) will cost upwards of £150 an hour to run a hygienist surgery upwards of £90 an hour to run. A hygienist room requires an awful lot less equipment , materials etc 

joeblogs51

That's a lot of overheads, brook2jack2. I sent an email to DPAS earlier today to see what they have to say about the situation.

Pantile1

joeblogs51 said:

That's a lot of overheads, brook2jack2. I sent an email to DPAS earlier today to see what they have to say about the situation.

Hi joeblogs51 - did you get a response from DPAS?  I also have a monthly payment plan and would be interested in their reply to you.  Thx.

joeblogs51

Pantile1 said:

joeblogs51 said:

That's a lot of overheads, brook2jack2. I sent an email to DPAS earlier today to see what they have to say about the situation.

Hi joeblogs51 - did you get a response from DPAS?  I also have a monthly payment plan and would be interested in their reply to you.  Thx.

DPAS said that they don't get involved in the administration of the plan and associated costs; they leave it to the practice. The practice don't want to know despite them making a further saving on their admin costs, here's the link: covid.practiceplangroup.co.uk/adminfee

I think the next step would be to make a complaint to the Dental Complaints Service.

Have you had a response from your dental practice?

Pantile1

joeblogs51 said:

Pantile1 said:

joeblogs51 said:

That's a lot of overheads, brook2jack2. I sent an email to DPAS earlier today to see what they have to say about the situation.

Hi joeblogs51 - did you get a response from DPAS?  I also have a monthly payment plan and would be interested in their reply to you.  Thx.

DPAS said that they don't get involved in the administration of the plan and associated costs; they leave it to the practice. The practice don't want to know despite them making a further saving on their admin costs, here's the link: covid.practiceplangroup.co.uk/adminfee

I think the next step would be to make a complaint to the Dental Complaints Service.

Have you had a response from your dental practice?

Thank you for the reply joeblogs51 - I was waiting to see if you got a response from DPAS first before contacting my practice.  I will try ton contact them to see if they are offering anything.  It's a very odd situation like everything else at the moment.

joeblogs51

Pantile1, I have sent an email to: contactus.gdc-uk.org/dcs/Complaint/PrivatePatients. I will let you know when I get a response.

Pantile1

Hi joeblogs51 - I heard back from my dental practice and they gave the usual spiel about how they would be in demand when some dentisit close after CV etc, etc.  But they did suggest that it was possible to suspend my DPAS payments until the situation changes but I would lose my Worldwide Dental Assistance - thats funny as I have no plans to go anywhere at the moment along with 99.9% of the populatiion  (unless you are called Ferguson).  I did wonder if this also meant I couldn't get emergency treatment from my dentist (or anything they have set up for treatment under CV).  Going to consider my options and look forward to hearing any reply you getfrom GDC.  Stay safe.

joeblogs51

Pantile1, DCS said to approach DPAS directly as issues with them do not fall under the DCS remit. If you get an unsatisfactory response, to try the CAB/legal advice route. This is a bit tricky because if they take it personally then will they still want to treat you? My practice has already said that if I contact them again about the issue, they will terminate my plan! I must have said something wrong!

That's interesting; my practice said that I could not take a "payment holiday" and suspend payments. Did your practice say to do this through DPAS directly? Yes, I think it is likely to affect the emergency cover part of the plan, but what exactly is this during Covid-19? They will only deal with you if you have swelling. You can get antibiotics through your GP. I will approach DPAS asking if suspending payments an option. 

The other option is to go down the coronavirus-business-complaint.service.gov.uk/ as MSE suggests if they are not being forthcoming with help.

Thrugelmir

joeblogs51 said:

My practice has already said that if I contact them again about the issue, they will terminate my plan! I must have said something wrong!

A dentist practice is like any other business. Free to choose their customers.