NHS Dentistry - "gone for good"
Discussion
BBC reporting on the output from the Nuffield Trust.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67754983
TL;DR
NHS dentistry is now so badly funded they recommend that it should be ringfenced for the most needy, with more adults pushed to pay for private care.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67754983
TL;DR
NHS dentistry is now so badly funded they recommend that it should be ringfenced for the most needy, with more adults pushed to pay for private care.
It’s not much better in Humza’s glorious socialist nirvana in the north. I booked a checkup at the dentist last month (free certainly). The earliest appointment I could get was March. Not seen a dentist for nearly 4 years and NHS Scotland now appears to be funding 1 checkup a year instead of 2 and appear to be trying to stretch to 2 years between appointments. Realistically, means testing and less assistance for the better off, coupled with higher payments to dentists for NHS work done is probably the only way to go to ensure there’s any semblance of a service left for those unable to pay.
GP surgery not much better round here. The lines open at 8AM and by 8AM I was so far down the queue the automated message amounted to "we're busy, f
k off". By the time I did get through all the days phone calls and face to faces are gone.
It might also be to do with the fact we're no onto our 5th new large housing estate being put in whilst simultaneously expecting the existing infrastructure to just cope with it. Oh, they did build a new primary school on one of them. Its full already.
k off". By the time I did get through all the days phone calls and face to faces are gone. It might also be to do with the fact we're no onto our 5th new large housing estate being put in whilst simultaneously expecting the existing infrastructure to just cope with it. Oh, they did build a new primary school on one of them. Its full already.
I have an NHS dentist, I am seeing him tomorrow. He seems fairly happy with his lot and only works 4-days per week. We are both very happy with the service that we get from him.
I have also used a private dentist in Spain. They seem to be much more advanced than the UK. The practice has 8-10 dentists with 5-chairs. Because of this scale they have the kit to create a digital model of your mouth and a CNC machine that can make crowns, veneers and inlays in-house.
But they are not expensive either as there is so much competition nearby they have to be both good and realistic with their pricing.
I have also used a private dentist in Spain. They seem to be much more advanced than the UK. The practice has 8-10 dentists with 5-chairs. Because of this scale they have the kit to create a digital model of your mouth and a CNC machine that can make crowns, veneers and inlays in-house.
But they are not expensive either as there is so much competition nearby they have to be both good and realistic with their pricing.
And yet, we have an excellent local NHS dentist.
As an example, I had a 6 monthly checkup booked for today but a couple of weeks ago I had a filling fall out. Happened on a Friday so I called the dentist to see if they could fit me in sooner and got an appointment for the Monday.
Unfortunately, I have needed a few interventions in the last couple of years (aging teeth) and have received nothing but top quality treatment, so it's not bad everywhere.
As an example, I had a 6 monthly checkup booked for today but a couple of weeks ago I had a filling fall out. Happened on a Friday so I called the dentist to see if they could fit me in sooner and got an appointment for the Monday.
Unfortunately, I have needed a few interventions in the last couple of years (aging teeth) and have received nothing but top quality treatment, so it's not bad everywhere.
alangla said:
It’s not much better in Humza’s glorious socialist nirvana in the north. I booked a checkup at the dentist last month (free certainly). The earliest appointment I could get was March. Not seen a dentist for nearly 4 years and NHS Scotland now appears to be funding 1 checkup a year instead of 2 and appear to be trying to stretch to 2 years between appointments. Realistically, means testing and less assistance for the better off, coupled with higher payments to dentists for NHS work done is probably the only way to go to ensure there’s any semblance of a service left for those unable to pay.
Must depends where you are. I got an appointment within a week of needing one. Wisdom out and tooth filled and scale in polish all performed within the next 2 weeks. Although the 6 month check up is now a 12 month check up. I do fancy using the private part of the practice to whiten my teeth up brighter than Simon Cowell though...
Ours is excellent but have had to have a discussion recently with the receptionist. She's helping us out but my wife's father is in danger of dropping off the register if he doesn't turn up for an appointment soon. The slight problem is that he's in a hospital bed and won't be able to be there.
The last thing he's worried about is his teeth but life goes on and I'm adamant that the oul bugger (one of my best friends) stays on the register.
The last thing he's worried about is his teeth but life goes on and I'm adamant that the oul bugger (one of my best friends) stays on the register.
The provision of NHS dentistry has been unaffordable since almost the birth of the NHS.
After the inception of the NHS in 1948, demand for NHS dentistry was so great that charges had to be introduced in 1951 and it’s slowly got worse since then. The current NHS contract for dentists is a joke and makes providing treatment uneconomic for them in many cases.
After the inception of the NHS in 1948, demand for NHS dentistry was so great that charges had to be introduced in 1951 and it’s slowly got worse since then. The current NHS contract for dentists is a joke and makes providing treatment uneconomic for them in many cases.
cheesejunkie said:
Ours is excellent but have had to have a discussion recently with the receptionist. She's helping us out but my wife's father is in danger of dropping off the register if he doesn't turn up for an appointment soon. The slight problem is that he's in a hospital bed and won't be able to be there.
The last thing he's worried about is his teeth but life goes on and I'm adamant that the oul bugger (one of my best friends) stays on the register.
One of many NHS dentistry myths is that being seen by an NHS dentist within a certain time period guarantees future care. They probably will see you if you've attended within the last couple of years, but they don't have to.The last thing he's worried about is his teeth but life goes on and I'm adamant that the oul bugger (one of my best friends) stays on the register.
There is no formal registration. It was done away with so that it was more difficult to assess how many people have access to NHS dental care. At a stroke, theoretically, everyone got access to NHS care.
KobayashiMaru86 said:
I'll need a removal and a bridge soon. My dentist, even though is NHS, won't do it under NHS pricing and is private only. Looking at over a grand and judging by how long her fillings last, I have no confidence it will.
Then get it done somewhere that you are happy with. If you're paying anyway, vote with your feet.John145 said:
In Norfolk, no NHS dentists taking on new patients within 30 miles. Another service killed by the conservatives.
Except this started nearly 20years ago..https://www.theguardian.com/society/2006/apr/07/he...
Guardian said:
The health minister, Rosie Winterton, claimed the figures showed fears that dentists would leave the NHS in a mass exodus "were unfounded", with nine out of 10 having signed up.
She said contracts signed by dentists accounted for around 96% of NHS dental services, and added that many of those who rejected the contract had a "relatively small NHS commitment"
She said contracts signed by dentists accounted for around 96% of NHS dental services, and added that many of those who rejected the contract had a "relatively small NHS commitment"
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