COVID19 DENTIST CHARGING FOR PPE

brook2jack2

As explained above the charge is covid compliance. The PPE is much more than before , specialist masks that need fit testing or air powered hoods , the PPE for surgical procedures done inches away from the mouth is much more expensive than a reusable mask and cleaning products. 

However the biggest expense is that due to measures such as having to leave a surgery empty for an hour after eg drilling a surgery will see many less patients a day. 

A Dentist in a private practice May see 25 patients a day , now they would be pushed to see four to six a day , in a physically punishing regime of donning and doffing many pieces of kit and rigorously adhering to distancing patients entering and exiting the practice. So all the while the practices expenses are increasing the income is decreasing from fewer patients.

nhs practices are not allowed to charge for PPE and some special funding arrangements are being negotiated as it is recognised that they can't cope financially and hit their targets. 

Private practices have received less financial help than betting shops . In my part of the world, which is not well off at all, 50% of all dentistry is provided privately. Most practices will subsidise their nhs side with private work. Most dental practices are worried about financial viability , there have already been closures and bankruptcies with more to folllow. https://www.dentistry.co.uk/2020/06/04/one-two-finances-concern-survey/

adamp87

epm-84 said:

adamp87 said:

epm-84 said:

Thrugelmir said:

Beverleybee said:

Its a little unfair that we suffer from reduced salaries through furlough, a noticeable increase in the cost of living,  and now this.  The dentists know the majority of us wont miss a visit  and will just take it on the chin.

Are you suggesting that dentists should subsidise their patients? 

A lot of dentists are private (not NHS) who charge around £20 more for an appointment than they get on the NHS.  You'd think given they effectively get a £20 per appointment top up by opting out of the NHS system that they could absorb the price of PPE, especially given they usually have masks and gloves available for dentists and dental nurses anyway, while face shields are reusable.

That’s not how a business works...

Most likely they are having to use more PPE than normal & are probably being charged a heftier price for it too. Yes it’s an added expense but I think it’s easily justifiable if they advise you beforehand.

Don't forget some people were in the middle of treatment when COVID-19 forced the closure of dental surgeries.  Imagine if a builder quoted you £200 for a 2 day job and then after doing 1 day's work said the price would be £220 due to a change in regulations - you'd tell everyone else to stay clear of them!

Considering we've had a worldwide pandemic I think I'd be fine with that considering its for my safety too.

holly1991

nannyto2 said:

Being charged at all is ridiculous. It does not cost that much for a good reuseable mask and some cleaning products. Just another excuse for businesses and rich folk to rip other people off. Neither my dentist nor my hairdresser has charged me ANYTHING extra. neither has my husbands barber. So don't know what kind of dentists and barbers you guys re going to, but as they always say, vote with your wallet and brain, and move permanently to another barber/hairdresser/dentist that has morals not to rip their customers off during a global emergency! Disgusting behaviour.

Tell that to my accountants face when he saw how much I’ve had to spend on said “ cheap reusable masks and cleaning products” if u don’t work in a sector that has literally been turned on its head then I suggest taking a step back looking on some of the Ppe supplier price lists then tell me businesses r just being greedy, I live outside the Leicester lockdown I’ve seen what happens to businesses that haven’t or can’t afford to follow rules with the Ppe  

nannyto2

holly1991 said:

nannyto2 said:

Being charged at all is ridiculous. It does not cost that much for a good reuseable mask and some cleaning products. Just another excuse for businesses and rich folk to rip other people off. Neither my dentist nor my hairdresser has charged me ANYTHING extra. neither has my husbands barber. So don't know what kind of dentists and barbers you guys re going to, but as they always say, vote with your wallet and brain, and move permanently to another barber/hairdresser/dentist that has morals not to rip their customers off during a global emergency! Disgusting behaviour.

Tell that to my accountants face when he saw how much I’ve had to spend on said “ cheap reusable masks and cleaning products” if u don’t work in a sector that has literally been turned on its head then I suggest taking a step back looking on some of the Ppe supplier price lists then tell me businesses r just being greedy, I live outside the Leicester lockdown I’ve seen what happens to businesses that haven’t or can’t afford to follow rules with the Ppe  

The fees being charged to OP far exceed what I believe it costs. If there was a fair and measured charge, then fine... but from reading all the extortionate charges on this thread, it seems places are just using this as an excuse to make up for losses over lockdown, or make extra money. Which shouldn't be the responsibility of the customers to foot the bill.

The real point I'm making is: my dentists and hairdressers are not charging anything extra, neither are any around my area as far as I am aware, prices are exactly the same, and they are not going bankrupt. It seems only a small minority are charging extra to their customers... so if a customer is not happy with the charges, they should just move their custom elsewhere permanently.

As a customer, you have a choice, is my main point. Just because you have been going to the same hairdresser or dentist for 5 years you do not owe them any loyalty, especially if they treat you in a way you disagree with.

brook2jack2

As said elsewhere it is not only the cost of the PPE , it is the fact surgeries have to be left for an hour after eg drilling so instead of seeing eg 25 patients a day in private practice , you may only be able to see 4 . The charge in no way reflects how much money the practice is losing by following covid guidelines. 

In NHS practice a dentist is not allowed to charge for PPE and down time due to covid. As it is widely recognised most practices would go bust negotiations are underway to radically decrease the work NHS dentists have to do to get paid . The costs of PPE and the decrease in patient numbers make difficult NHS finances even worse. 

Dentists are going bust already and many may well follow as PPE or covid compliance charges in no way make up for the income lost . It costs £120 to over £200 per hour , per room to run a dental practice. 

superbigal

nannyto2 said:

holly1991 said:

nannyto2 said:

Being charged at all is ridiculous. It does not cost that much for a good reuseable mask and some cleaning products. Just another excuse for businesses and rich folk to rip other people off. Neither my dentist nor my hairdresser has charged me ANYTHING extra. neither has my husbands barber. So don't know what kind of dentists and barbers you guys re going to, but as they always say, vote with your wallet and brain, and move permanently to another barber/hairdresser/dentist that has morals not to rip their customers off during a global emergency! Disgusting behaviour.

Tell that to my accountants face when he saw how much I’ve had to spend on said “ cheap reusable masks and cleaning products” if u don’t work in a sector that has literally been turned on its head then I suggest taking a step back looking on some of the Ppe supplier price lists then tell me businesses r just being greedy, I live outside the Leicester lockdown I’ve seen what happens to businesses that haven’t or can’t afford to follow rules with the Ppe  

The fees being charged to OP far exceed what I believe it costs. If there was a fair and measured charge, then fine... but from reading all the extortionate charges on this thread, it seems places are just using this as an excuse to make up for losses over lockdown, or make extra money. Which shouldn't be the responsibility of the customers to foot the bill.

The real point I'm making is: my dentists and hairdressers are not charging anything extra, neither are any around my area as far as I am aware, prices are exactly the same, and they are not going bankrupt. It seems only a small minority are charging extra to their customers... so if a customer is not happy with the charges, they should just move their custom elsewhere permanently.

As a customer, you have a choice, is my main point. Just because you have been going to the same hairdresser or dentist for 5 years you do not owe them any loyalty, especially if they treat you in a way you disagree with.

As your knowledge base suggests dentists should have cheap reusable masks you are to be ignored.

brook2jack2

Ps this is what almost £300 of disposable masks FFP3 , that dentists now have to use , looks like. All of these have to be individually fit tested , by a qualified fit tester at £25 to £40 per person per time, on each member of staff. If you can't get any more then the staff have to be fit tested on another mask. This is without the washable surgical gowns £25 each , foggers, air sanitisers etc etc etc 

nannyto2

@brook2jack2 you can post as many calculations as you want in this thread, it doesn't detract from the fact that the majority of dentists and hairdressers are not charging their customers extra during this time, and customers have a right to move if they don't agree with paying extra charges.

nannyto2

superbigal said:

nannyto2 said:

holly1991 said:

nannyto2 said:

Being charged at all is ridiculous. It does not cost that much for a good reuseable mask and some cleaning products. Just another excuse for businesses and rich folk to rip other people off. Neither my dentist nor my hairdresser has charged me ANYTHING extra. neither has my husbands barber. So don't know what kind of dentists and barbers you guys re going to, but as they always say, vote with your wallet and brain, and move permanently to another barber/hairdresser/dentist that has morals not to rip their customers off during a global emergency! Disgusting behaviour.

Tell that to my accountants face when he saw how much I’ve had to spend on said “ cheap reusable masks and cleaning products” if u don’t work in a sector that has literally been turned on its head then I suggest taking a step back looking on some of the Ppe supplier price lists then tell me businesses r just being greedy, I live outside the Leicester lockdown I’ve seen what happens to businesses that haven’t or can’t afford to follow rules with the Ppe  

The fees being charged to OP far exceed what I believe it costs. If there was a fair and measured charge, then fine... but from reading all the extortionate charges on this thread, it seems places are just using this as an excuse to make up for losses over lockdown, or make extra money. Which shouldn't be the responsibility of the customers to foot the bill.

The real point I'm making is: my dentists and hairdressers are not charging anything extra, neither are any around my area as far as I am aware, prices are exactly the same, and they are not going bankrupt. It seems only a small minority are charging extra to their customers... so if a customer is not happy with the charges, they should just move their custom elsewhere permanently.

As a customer, you have a choice, is my main point. Just because you have been going to the same hairdresser or dentist for 5 years you do not owe them any loyalty, especially if they treat you in a way you disagree with.

As your knowledge base suggests dentists should have cheap reusable masks you are to be ignored.

? I am not suggesting anything, except advising that if anyone here posting that they are not happy with the charges from their dentist/hairdresser should just move to another hairdresser or dentist. It is really as simple as that. I am not here to argue over costs and mathematics. Though the original thread is someone being charged £43 extra for PPE, for one single appointment, if you believe it costs that, OK! I am not here to argue with that. I respect that people have different opinions on the matter.

All I know is that nobody in my family has been charged anything extra from any services during this time, nobody in my area is charging extra for services for PPE, and therefore I know places exist that are not charging customers extra, and I am advising everyone that you have a choice to move and don't owe your regular dentist/hairdresser your loyalty if you disagree with the charges.

brook2jack2

On the other hand if you find you are passing out from trying to provide microsurgery all day in very hot PPE , many dentists have invested in papr hoods because they cannot physically continue to work long term in ppf3 masks . A Papr system will be £500 to £1000 per person plus the costs of replaceable filters.