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Changed for private dental treatment at NHS prices?
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Homersimpson
Posts: 420 Forumite
Hi all,
The last two times I have been to the dentist for a routine check-up they have asked me to sign a piece of paper which states something along the line of, I understand that I have been treated as a private patient but at NHS prices. The charge both times was the standard check-up cost (just over £20).
Any idea why this is? Knowing the people who run the surgery there is some kind of 'scam' involved to make more money, the check-up only took 5 minutes from entering the room to being downstairs paying.
The last two times I have been to the dentist for a routine check-up they have asked me to sign a piece of paper which states something along the line of, I understand that I have been treated as a private patient but at NHS prices. The charge both times was the standard check-up cost (just over £20).
Any idea why this is? Knowing the people who run the surgery there is some kind of 'scam' involved to make more money, the check-up only took 5 minutes from entering the room to being downstairs paying.
I have a lot of problems with my neighbours, they hammer and bang on the walls sometimes until 2 or 3 in the morning - some nights I can hardly hear myself drilling 
0
Comments
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The NHS will only pay for so much dentistry a year. Typically towards the end of the financial year ie January, February,March, the funding for NHS dentistry runs out in some surgeries, so they have a few choices,
See no one for those few months (and face financial suicide)
See only private patients and charge proper private prices
See patients privately , charge at or close to NHS price. As for some practices the patient charge is very similar to the total paid by the NHS this means most people can be seen without undue hardship to the patients.
This is no scam , they will be getting less money than from the NHS but can still see some patients until the new financial year starts and they get NHS funding once more.
They cannot get extra funding for seeing extra patients above their contract , indeed if they do the patients charges are taken off the next years contract value , so in essence a practice will pay for seeing extra NHS patients.0
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