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New NHS Dental Charges From 1 April 2008
Comments
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I've been up to NHS Direct at Springhill, Wakefield and shadowed one of the dental nurse advisors.
I know what you mean.
What really annoys me is when a dentist goes on holiday for 2 weeks, arranges no emergency cover and just leaves the out of hours message on the answerphone. Totally inconsiderate!
...Linda xxIt's easy to give in to that negative voice that chants "cant do it" BUT we lift each other up.
We dont count all the runners ahead of us & feel intimidated.
Instead we look back proudly at our journey, our personal struggle & determination & remember that there are those that never even attempt to reach the starting line.0 -
But nowadays on the NHS, Linda, there are no 'registered' patients, and no committment to continuing care, and no continuing care payments.
That was all sacrificed on the alter of 'Access'.
Dentists are only responsible for the patients currently under treatment, so as long as the dentist has finished all outstanding treatment, he can go off on holiday without any responsibility to anybody.
Anyone developing a problem whilst he is away has no claim to him, as if he's not there, he doesn't have the 'capacity' to see them.
It then is quite rightly up to NHS direct to find a dentist that does have 'capacity'.
The wonderful new NHS contract at it's very best!!
How to find a dentist.
1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.0 -
Agreed but some arrange no cover for patients who are currently under their care. Then I have to call in favours from local GDPs to see the bloke with the facial swelling as an emergency.
...Linda xxIt's easy to give in to that negative voice that chants "cant do it" BUT we lift each other up.
We dont count all the runners ahead of us & feel intimidated.
Instead we look back proudly at our journey, our personal struggle & determination & remember that there are those that never even attempt to reach the starting line.0 -
we need a i hate patients ranting thread.0
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Would agree, no matter how much you or I disagree with the NHS Charges it is not the poor receptionists fault, so no point getting irate with her. The dental receptionists :A are only giving us the bad news.
At least they don't try and diagnose your illness and fob you off with an appointment three weeks next Wednesday, like my local quacks.
Hides from abuse from Doctors receptionists Cheers
Steve0 -
It then is quite rightly up to NHS direct to find a dentist that does have 'capacity'.
No it is not - NHSD can advise on dentists who are currently seeing new patients or are offering urgent dental slots, but they cannot "find" a dentist where there are none ...... nor can they create appointments where there are none!
We do our best.Claimed back in 2007
Barclays Bank £2245
Barclaycard £ 504
Capital One £ 100
NOW SAVING LOTS OF MONEY!0 -
Smileysunflower wrote: »It then is quite rightly up to NHS direct to find a dentist that does have 'capacity'.
No it is not - NHSD can advise on dentists who are currently seeing new patients or are offering urgent dental slots, but they cannot "find" a dentist where there are none ...... nor can they create appointments where there are none!
We do our best.
That's not what the DoH is telling the world!! How to find a dentist.
1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.0 -
lol i always give people the pct number so they can take it out on them. its not my fault that someone has bothered to go to the dentist for years and now "all of a sudden" theyre in pain and need one. grrrrrrrr0
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Smileysunflower wrote: »It then is quite rightly up to NHS direct to find a dentist that does have 'capacity'.
No it is not - NHSD can advise on dentists who are currently seeing new patients or are offering urgent dental slots, but they cannot "find" a dentist where there are none ...... nor can they create appointments where there are none!
We do our best.
The problem I've found is that when an NHS practice does have capacity to take on new NHS patients, they don't let NHS Direct know because they are scared of the whole Scarborough queue fiasco happening all over again, the practices tend to manage it themselves by either holding their own list, 'cherry picking' or just taking a few patients that phone up or are referred in by existing patients
..Linda xxIt's easy to give in to that negative voice that chants "cant do it" BUT we lift each other up.
We dont count all the runners ahead of us & feel intimidated.
Instead we look back proudly at our journey, our personal struggle & determination & remember that there are those that never even attempt to reach the starting line.0 -
bank_of_slate wrote: »The problem I've found is that when an NHS practice does have capacity to take on new NHS patients, they don't let NHS Direct know because they are scared of the whole Scarborough queue fiasco happening all over again, the practices tend to manage it themselves by either holding their own list, 'cherry picking' or just taking a few patients that phone up or are referred in by existing patients
..Linda xx
i think that is the better way of doing it though. when we were taking on the phone never stopped, we were all really stressed and have vowed to do all we can so we NEVER have to take new NHS patients on again.0
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