Is it possible to see an NHS dentist any more?

JudgeDekker

Hello. Has anyone been able to see an NHS dentist since the pandemic started, please? My NHS dentist appears to have shut up shop, so I tried to register with a new NHS NHS dentist, but I couldn't find a single one in Oxfordshire that will take on a new NHS patient. Does anyone know of any waiting list or anything that I can join? Is there a way to get the system to work, do you know, or is there just no such thing as NHS dentistry for anyone moving to a new area anymore, please? 

Gers

JudgeDekker said:

Hello. Has anyone been able to see an NHS dentist since the pandemic started, please? My NHS dentist appears to have shut up shop, so I tried to register with a new NHS NHS dentist, but I couldn't find a single one in Oxfordshire that will take on a new NHS patient. Does anyone know of any waiting list or anything that I can join? Is there a way to get the system to work, do you know, or is there just no such thing as NHS dentistry for anyone moving to a new area anymore, please? 

Try this_

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/dental-services-oxfordshire/our-service/finding-an-nhs-dentist/

Brie

it will depend on what dentists are in your area and if they have room on their books for an NHS patient.

seems to be some availability on here!

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist/results/Oxford?latitude=51.75197906452834&longitude=-1.2576470553970027

Undervalued

JudgeDekker said:

Hello. Has anyone been able to see an NHS dentist since the pandemic started, please? My NHS dentist appears to have shut up shop, so I tried to register with a new NHS NHS dentist, but I couldn't find a single one in Oxfordshire that will take on a new NHS patient. Does anyone know of any waiting list or anything that I can join? Is there a way to get the system to work, do you know, or is there just no such thing as NHS dentistry for anyone moving to a new area anymore, please? 

Technically there is no such thing as registering with an NHS dentist in England (some other parts of the UK are slightly different). You can go to any NHS dentist who will see you. Once they start a course of treatment they are obliged to see you for however many times may be necessary to complete the course of treatment. However after that they don't have to see you ever again. 

That said, an NHS dentist is free to operate as if their patients were "registered" and only see their regulars if they so choose.

Availability varies hugely from arear to area. Round here there is no problem at all with lots of NHS practices advertising for patients along with dozens of private only setups. I am told, third hand, that in Devon and Cornwall you cant get one for love or money!

Toothsmith

Undervalued said:

JudgeDekker said:

Hello. Has anyone been able to see an NHS dentist since the pandemic started, please? My NHS dentist appears to have shut up shop, so I tried to register with a new NHS NHS dentist, but I couldn't find a single one in Oxfordshire that will take on a new NHS patient. Does anyone know of any waiting list or anything that I can join? Is there a way to get the system to work, do you know, or is there just no such thing as NHS dentistry for anyone moving to a new area anymore, please? 

That said, an NHS dentist is free to operate as if their patients were "registered" and only see their regulars if they so choose.

There is a confounding factor in the mix at the moment as well UV.

NHS(E) in particular are directing their contracted dentists to not see 'healthy' patients for 'unnecessary' checkups, but instead to be there for dental emergencies contacting 111. 

sammyjammy

Undervalued said:

Availability varies hugely from arear to area. Round here there is no problem at all with lots of NHS practices advertising for patients along with dozens of private only setups. I am told, third hand, that in Devon and Cornwall you cant get one for love or money!

Its true to the extent that you can't even get a child registered with a dentist/seen for a check up, this isn't a COVID thing although its obviously been exacerbated by it.

Torry_Quine

Things are very different where I am in Scotland. I've had several appointments and my next is my regular checkup.

Toothsmith

Torry_Quine said:

Things are very different where I am in Scotland. I've had several appointments and my next is my regular checkup.

Scotland still run a system very similar to the pre-2006 NHS dental system in this country. Patients are registered with dentists, and there is a fee for every item of treatment. Not the ridiculous banded system England & Wales now have.

Plus, the NHS in Scotland doesn't have quite the same control over the dentists contracted to it.

JudgeDekker

Brie said:

it will depend on what dentists are in your area and if they have room on their books for an NHS patient.

seems to be some availability on here!

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist/results/Oxford?latitude=51.75197906452834&longitude=-1.2576470553970027

I went through that entire list, and there was one that opened their books the day before I called, so I got in. Thanks very much, Brie.

goldfinches

@JudgeDekker - glad to hear you got in, hope all goes well from now on.

Just in case anyone else in the Oxford area is also looking for an NHS dentist this practice is taking new NHS patients Temple Street Dental Practice - Oxford Dentist - General Information (templedental.co.uk) 

I had a hygienist appointment there in February and thought the Covid precautions were exemplary and the hygienist was both gentle and thorough. If you send me a message I'll dig out their name from my emails (only the dentists are named on the practice site and they have more than one hygienist).

The receptionist and one of the dental nurses speak fluent Polish too, in case that's helpful to know.

JudgeDekker

I  noticed that the new Health Secretary Theresa Coffey will be making a big announcement soon, and one of the items on the list of three or four will be about NHS dentistry.