Dentist appointment

kiawill

Hi guys 

I have a dentist appointment booked next week. But my dentist is 250 miles away. They are open and they have said I can travel 

What is the actual law on this? 

Is there a law?

They have emailed me confirmation of my appointment Incase I get stopped by the police 

Thanks 

unforeseen

In the UK?
In one country of the UK? 

Ibrahim5

Sounds like an expensive dental appointment.

kiawill

unforeseen said:

In the UK?
In one country of the UK? 

I’m from Devon 

Appointment is in Bradford 

They have worked on my teeth before And something needs changing, they aren’t charging me 

elsien

You can leave home for medical appointments but from a risk point of view you might want to weigh up the different factors. 

Are you planning to travel there and back in a day, or stay over somewhere? Staying at other people’s homes overnight is against the legislation unless you’re in a support bubble. 

 Is it essential or cosmetic and can it wait a few more weeks? Are you in a more vulnerable category? 

Pollycat

Have you read this from GOV.UK?

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae#national-lockdown-stay-at-home

It gives examples of 'reasonable excuses' to leave home.

If your 250 mile trip to a dentist is not deemed 'reasonable, you could be fined £200.

You could be covered by a couple of things:

Essential activities

You can leave home to buy things at shops or obtain services where necessary.

Medical reasons

You can leave home for a medical reason, including to get a COVID-19 test or vaccine, for medical appointments and for emergencies.

silvercar

I would say that you are legal to travel.
Pointers would be that it is an appointment with an existing dentist, it is for a continuing course of treatment.
Reasons this would be less acceptable would be if you were attending an appointment for a dentist 250 miles away as a new patient, when there are other dentists nearer to home you could just as easily choose.

justworriedabit

silvercar said:

I would say that you are legal to travel.
Pointers would be that it is an appointment with an existing dentist, it is for a continuing course of treatment.
Reasons this would be less acceptable would be if you were attending an appointment for a dentist 250 miles away as a new patient, when there are other dentists nearer to home you could just as easily choose.

100% agree. I'd like to add, please consider how you are to get there is it via public transport, you driving alone or someone else and the risks, how you are feeling on the day. Importantly, is it essential, can it wait. I'm sure you have thought about all of this but it is worth re-visisitng as 500 miles up and back for a dentist during lockdown needs to be thought about hard, so good luck and I hope it goes well
What they say about dental appointments in link below, so it looks as though you are within the guidelines as others have said. 
Re accessing dental services in England
https://www.nhsinform/dental-and-condition/-covid-19/healthy-living/coronavirus-covid-19-accessing-dental-services.

JamoLew

The rules/advice may differ in Scotland though - OP is England

@Pollycat post is correct

Pollycat

Another thing for the OP to consider:

driving 250 miles to a dentist appointment and back (after treatment) may be too much in one day, obviously depending on the actual treatment.

I wouldn't really like to drive 500 miles in a single day, let alone have dental treatment.

OP - please ensure you only take England information into account as travelling from Devon to Bradford is wholly within England (obviously) and therefore Scottish rules/regulations/laws are irrelevant.

spiro

Pollycat said:

I wouldn't really like to drive 500 miles in a single day, let alone have dental treatment.

I think it depends on what you are used to, I happily drive over 900 miles back from Spain in a day.