NHS Treatment turned out to be private?!!!

cleo1299

Toothsmith wrote: »

No - Nobody is 'registered' with an NHS dentist now, and there are no fees for anything other than courses of treatment.

Would be worth ringing up the PCT and letting them know what was happening though. Might help those that are 'stuck' with her.

Thanks, Toothsmith, I'm glad to hear she's not getting any money on my account!

Actually, after reading yours and others posts, I've realized that perhaps I ought to be making a formal complaint to the PCT about this dentist.

I had two major problems with her. First, she extracted a front tooth (I think it really did have to be extracted) and when I said I wanted a bridge to fill the gap, she didn't refuse outright but just kept arguing that I should have an implant (done privately by her, of course) instead, or else settle for a denture. I didn't want an implant because in the first place I can't afford it and in the second place I have had bisphonates and don't want to risk osteonecrosis, which I read up about on the web. But she kept insisting it would be fine. Of course if she was wrong it would be me that had osteonecrosis, not her.

The other problem with this dentist was that I developed root canal problems in a molar which already had a crown. I couldn't get the dentist to sort it out. This dental practice had a sign up in their reception saying they would not do endodontic treatment under the NHS because of the ruling about only using instruments once.

Eventually I asked her to refer me for NHS treatment at a dental hospital. She did, but then the dental hospital refused to assess me for NHS treatment. The dental hospital said this was because the dentist did not provide the required information although they had repeatedly sent the referral back asking for the information they wanted.

The dentist, on the other hand, insisted to me (very crossly) that she had sent them everything she had. I tried to resolve this, by asking the dentist for a copy of everything, and taking it in person to the dental hospital, and I also asked the assistance of the PALS (Patient Assistance and Liason, or something). But I couldn't get anywhere, and the pain kept getting worse. Eventually I accepted an appointment for private treatment at the private clinic in the dental hospital.

The problem was treated, and done very well, but I am still not happy about the fact that I had to pay for it and was refused assessment for NHS treatment. I have complained to the Trust that runs the dental hospital, but they just say it was because the dentist didn't provide the information. I was planning to carry that complaint on to the Ombudsman, but now it occurs to me that maybe they are right and maybe it is the dentist I should be complaining about. Or maybe I should complain about the dentist in addition to pursuing my complaint against the Trust. What do you think?

Toothsmith

This all gets a bit complicated now!

The bisphosphonates thing is a variable amount of risk depending on your dosage and the length of time you've been on them.

If she was happy enough to take a tooth out for you - then having an implant is probably less risk than that - especially if done soon afterwards.

I can think of some situations where refusing a bridge is a perfectly valid thing to do. So I can't condem that without knowing all the facts.

I think the bit about refusing to do root fillings because of the directive to throw away instruments is enough to hang her - especially if the sign is still there in the waiting room.

NHS rules say it must be offered if necessary, and so the only way out of doing it would be to stop doing NHS altogether, and not take taxpayers money anymore. The NHS deemed the cost of throwing away instruments was negligable, and not worth giving any more money to support. (Which is completely wrong and mad - anybody would think they wanted to get rid of NHS dentistry!)

You seem to have been treated badly by both places - so I wouldn't drop any complaints, but it is worth telling the PCT what's going on with the first one.

cleo1299

Thanks, Toothsmith. I take your point regarding implants and bridges. As I understand it, NHS patients don't have the right to anything other than a denture, unless there's a clinical reason. But I still think it was wrong the way she kept trying to "sell" me an implant.

With regard to the problem about being refused assessment for NHS treatment in the dental hospital, I will wait and see what the Ombudsman says about whether the hospital is at fault for failing to assess me. If they say it's not the hospital's fault, then I will raise it with the PCT and see if the dentist can be held responsible for failing to provide the information requested.

Meanwhile, I think I'll pop back to the surgery and if the sign about no endodontic treatment is still there I will take a photo and raise that isue with the PCT.

Thanks very much for your advice.

cleo1299

cleo1299 wrote: »

" It is up to dentists what they want to charge on the basis that it is agreed with the patient before treatment starts." (Hugh Smith, head of the Dental Complaints Service, quoted in an article in "The Independent" 12 Jan 2008)

In this case, it wasn't the cost of treatment but the cost of the initial consultation that led to the dispute. But it's the same principle: the seller states the price, the consumer decides if he or she is willing to buy for the stated price.

And after all, it's not like I'm trying to get something on the cheap. I reckon they should have told me what it would cost at the time the appointment was made. They've AGREED that they should have told me what it would cost at the time the appointment was made. They've apologized, they've thanked me for drawing it to their attention, they've done everything but correct the bill. I'm darned if I'm going to lay down now and let them go ahead and squeeze out their money that I never agreed to pay them. Not without a fight, anyway.

Hooray, I won. This Trust has grudgingly agreed to accept £100 instead of the invoiced amount of £150. They are still trying to claim it was my responsibility to ascertain the cost, but I reckon they know they're in the wrong, they just won't admit it. Otherwise, they would not be caving in.

Victory is sweet!
:j