NHS dentist and PPE charges

jjames1985

sweetsand said:

I went to the dentist today paid a  175 pounds to have a wisdom tooth out as they would not do it on band 2 stating all types of excuses. So it was done privately. They said they done me a favour as they usually charge 225 I think they said. What a bunch of crooks, I'm referring to the ones I used

Perhaps, like you, they think that going outside right now is practically a death sentence and want "danger money" for treating people.

Although I must admit, seeing you of all people moaning about someone effectively charging more because of infection fears did give me a laugh.  Thanks!

Undervalued

sweetsand said:

I went to the dentist today paid a  175 pounds to have a wisdom tooth out as they would not do it on band 2 stating all types of excuses. So it was done privately. They said they done me a favour as they usually charge 225 I think they said. What a bunch of crooks, I'm referring to the ones I used

Then I think you should make a formal complaint. 

I fully understand the problems that dentists have in operating a viable NHS practice, even before the Covid 19 issues, but it is quite wrong to bend the rules at the patient's expense. 

They are supposed to be professionals. It is a free country, they are not obliged to take an NHS contract, if they feel it is not viable. They can choose to be a fully private practice and charge whatever they feel the market will pay. Many have done just that but whilst their NHS contract remains they must honour it fully. The other aspects are not the patient's problem.

brook2jack2

If the op is not under a nhs course of treatment and does not have a nhs dentist in Scotland , then there is no such thing as registration and a dentist is not obliged to see them on the NHS. That's assuming that this is the ops regular practice and they have a nhs contract. 

From the sounds of it the wisdom tooth might have needed a surgical extraction. In which case the surgery has to lie fallow for an hour afterwards before cleaning can start.

A dentist practice costs from £120 to £250 plus an hour per room to run. Just because no one is in that room it still costs that to run. Also the cost of PPE has increased by 8000% for each procedure  done and the number of patients that can be seen a day has dramatically decreased. In a private practice a dentist might see 20 to 25 in a day in nhs many more . Now between 4 and 7 a day. Yet practice expenses are still increasing. 

Most practices are a combination of private and nhs. The private helps subsidise the nhs. In the covid crisis private and mixed practices have received less financial help than betting shops !

Ygritte

I just found this post as I was searching for similar. I’ve just called my dentist to make an appointment and was warned by the receptionist that I would have to pay the nhs fee of £22.70 for the check up (I’m usually completely exempt) and a £15 ppe fee on top of it. AND if I need any treatment that I would have to pay private rates.  She said it’s the same all over as the nhs has not given them money?! 

I’m at a bit of a loss as to what to do. I can pay the check up cost but I’m having pain and suspect there is something more needing to be done but definitely cannot afford private costs. 

elsien

Ygritte said:

I just found this post as I was searching for similar. I’ve just called my dentist to make an appointment and was warned by the receptionist that I would have to pay the nhs fee of £22.70 for the check up (I’m usually completely exempt) and a £15 ppe fee on top of it. AND if I need any treatment that I would have to pay private rates.  She said it’s the same all over as the nhs has not given them money?! 

I’m at a bit of a loss as to what to do. I can pay the check up cost but I’m having pain and suspect there is something more needing to be done but definitely cannot afford private costs. 

Bypass the receptionist and clarify this with the practice manager - I'm not sure they can actually make  you go private if you're NHS. 
With any luck one of the dentists who post on here with be along in due course. 

brook2jack2

There is no such thing as registration in the NHS in England and Wales , so there is no obligation for a dentist to see you on the NHS.

From the sound of it you are being seen as a private patient as you normally don't pay NHS fees. 

It may be they have lost their NHS contract and cannot offer NHS appointments any more. 

However if they are NHS they will still be paid for NHS work , the problem is there is no allowance made for increased cost of PPE and the vastly decreased number of patients a practice can see so many NHS dentists are extremely worried that the NHS will claw back money due to the vastly smaller amounts of patients who can be seen. 

As said before ring to speak to the practice manager to clarify.

Ygritte

No I am nhs, I’m just exempt from any charges due to being on certain benefits. The receptionist just wanted to make sure I knew I would have to pay the nhs checkup fee, ppe fee and that anything else is purely private for the time being. 

The manager isnt about. 

I’m not sure what to do as no other dentists are accepting anyone right now. 

Spoonie_Turtle

Ygritte said:

No I am nhs, I’m just exempt from any charges due to being on certain benefits. The receptionist just wanted to make sure I knew I would have to pay the nhs checkup fee, ppe fee and that anything else is purely private for the time being. 

The manager isnt about. 

I’m not sure what to do as no other dentists are accepting anyone right now. 

That's really weird, because I'm also exempt due to benefits and I was charged nothing for my appointment last week. I just had to fill in the exemption form as usual.

elsien

Ygritte said:

No I am nhs, I’m just exempt from any charges due to being on certain benefits. The receptionist just wanted to make sure I knew I would have to pay the nhs checkup fee, ppe fee and that anything else is purely private for the time being. 

The manager isnt about. 

I’m not sure what to do as no other dentists are accepting anyone right now. 

Write to the practice manager if you are unable to speak to them in person. Tends to focus the mind at their end. Plus I am wondering if the receptionist has got the wrong end of the stick or just not explained it very well. 

Ygritte

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Ygritte said:

No I am nhs, I’m just exempt from any charges due to being on certain benefits. The receptionist just wanted to make sure I knew I would have to pay the nhs checkup fee, ppe fee and that anything else is purely private for the time being. 

The manager isnt about. 

I’m not sure what to do as no other dentists are accepting anyone right now. 

That's really weird, because I'm also exempt due to benefits and I was charged nothing for my appointment last week. I just had to fill in the exemption form as usual.

Where are you based? This is east London/Essex