NHS Dentist 2 Year Rule
Discussion
I'm sure everyone knows this (apart from me it would seem) but if you don't come for a check up at your dentist for 2 years they take you off the register!
Sad really, been there since it opened in 2008, they even asked me to come in when the dental regulation lot wanted to see some patients to assess them. I always used to make an appt when I got a reminder text from them, haven't had one since 2019 though for the last couple of years so I thought that this was due to them being overworked and not wanting people to come in when they have no issues.
Anyway if thats you and the dentist mysteriously stopped your text reminders then get on down for a check up!
Sad really, been there since it opened in 2008, they even asked me to come in when the dental regulation lot wanted to see some patients to assess them. I always used to make an appt when I got a reminder text from them, haven't had one since 2019 though for the last couple of years so I thought that this was due to them being overworked and not wanting people to come in when they have no issues.
Anyway if thats you and the dentist mysteriously stopped your text reminders then get on down for a check up!
Been a rule for a while, even over Covid, which is a bit tight, as it was pretty hard to actually get an appointment. I had a sit and wait appointment recently so was sat in the waiting room listening to the receptionist answering the phone for nearly two hours. A couple of people called to get an appointment to be told they hadn't been for two years, so were no longer registered there. One seemed to be in pain, but still couldn't get in, with the receptionist saying to just call 111. NHS dentistry is in a bad way at the moment and doesn't seem to be getting any better.
boyse7en said:
Just made an appointment for a check-up. Earliest they can do is October.
That's to replace a cancelled appointment in July, which was a replacement for a cancelled appointment in January, which was a replacement for a cancelled appointment last September...
That sounds more like they are being cancelled and your not bothering to remake the appointment for weeks/months after. That's to replace a cancelled appointment in July, which was a replacement for a cancelled appointment in January, which was a replacement for a cancelled appointment last September...
It's really crap.
There's effectively no NHS cover for anyone over 18.
I rent and have moved many times in the past 10 years and have been forced to go private.
Thus I only go if in a lot of pain. 10 years ago it cost me £900 for a root canal, thought I needed another one a couple of months ago and was in so much pain.
Local private charges £1800
so I called 111. They called back within an hour and got me an emergency NHS dental appointment. Closest one was a 30 minute train ride and 15 minute walk away but it saved me a packet.
There's effectively no NHS cover for anyone over 18.
I rent and have moved many times in the past 10 years and have been forced to go private.
Thus I only go if in a lot of pain. 10 years ago it cost me £900 for a root canal, thought I needed another one a couple of months ago and was in so much pain.
Local private charges £1800
so I called 111. They called back within an hour and got me an emergency NHS dental appointment. Closest one was a 30 minute train ride and 15 minute walk away but it saved me a packet.Same, fell into this trap earlier in the year, hadn't had a text for a while, rang to book in, "Oh sorry you've not been for over 2 years, we text you"
I didn't get a text?
Let me speak with your dentist and ring you back
Rings back half hour later
Sorry, dentist says we text you so we can't help anymore
And that was that, been unable to find an NHS one and I have no problems, but I'd still like a check up. My employer has just switched private medical cover providers and the letter mentions dentist cover this time, so I'm waiting for a code to come to get into my account and look into it. Hoping that I get checkups included FOC with that.
I didn't get a text?
Let me speak with your dentist and ring you back
Rings back half hour later
Sorry, dentist says we text you so we can't help anymore
And that was that, been unable to find an NHS one and I have no problems, but I'd still like a check up. My employer has just switched private medical cover providers and the letter mentions dentist cover this time, so I'm waiting for a code to come to get into my account and look into it. Hoping that I get checkups included FOC with that.
the-norseman said:
boyse7en said:
Just made an appointment for a check-up. Earliest they can do is October.
That's to replace a cancelled appointment in July, which was a replacement for a cancelled appointment in January, which was a replacement for a cancelled appointment last September...
That sounds more like they are being cancelled and your not bothering to remake the appointment for weeks/months after. That's to replace a cancelled appointment in July, which was a replacement for a cancelled appointment in January, which was a replacement for a cancelled appointment last September...
Come September it'll have been two years since i saw the dentist. Hopefully they won't strike me off for non-attendance as it is their doing.
boyse7en said:
They are cancelling them, not me!
Come September it'll have been two years since i saw the dentist. Hopefully they won't strike me off for non-attendance as it is their doing.
I'm not saying your cancelling them, what I'm saying is, when you get a text/email/call saying they are cancelling them, do you reply straight away or leave it a few weeks before replying. Come September it'll have been two years since i saw the dentist. Hopefully they won't strike me off for non-attendance as it is their doing.
my BIL does exactly that, replies after weeks and then it shocked when the appointment is months away again.
the-norseman said:
boyse7en said:
They are cancelling them, not me!
Come September it'll have been two years since i saw the dentist. Hopefully they won't strike me off for non-attendance as it is their doing.
I'm not saying your cancelling them, what I'm saying is, when you get a text/email/call saying they are cancelling them, do you reply straight away or leave it a few weeks before replying. Come September it'll have been two years since i saw the dentist. Hopefully they won't strike me off for non-attendance as it is their doing.
my BIL does exactly that, replies after weeks and then it shocked when the appointment is months away again.
boyse7en said:
Just made an appointment for a check-up. Earliest they can do is October.
That's to replace a cancelled appointment in July, which was a replacement for a cancelled appointment in January, which was a replacement for a cancelled appointment last September...
That's my experience with the new NHS dentist that took over from my previous dentist who retired. Before I could ring up and be seen within 3 days. Any treatment would be done there and then or within a week. He was efficient and organised. The new one, 3-months for a check-up appointment (usually cancelled and rescheduled). Need a filling, count on 7-weeks before it'll be done! That's to replace a cancelled appointment in July, which was a replacement for a cancelled appointment in January, which was a replacement for a cancelled appointment last September...
croyde said:
It's really crap.
There's effectively no NHS cover for anyone over 18.
I rent and have moved many times in the past 10 years and have been forced to go private.
Thus I only go if in a lot of pain. 10 years ago it cost me £900 for a root canal, thought I needed another one a couple of months ago and was in so much pain.
Local private charges £1800 so I called 111. They called back within an hour and got me an emergency NHS dental appointment. Closest one was a 30 minute train ride and 15 minute walk away but it saved me a packet.
It is very much location dependent.There's effectively no NHS cover for anyone over 18.
I rent and have moved many times in the past 10 years and have been forced to go private.
Thus I only go if in a lot of pain. 10 years ago it cost me £900 for a root canal, thought I needed another one a couple of months ago and was in so much pain.
Local private charges £1800
so I called 111. They called back within an hour and got me an emergency NHS dental appointment. Closest one was a 30 minute train ride and 15 minute walk away but it saved me a packet.I am currently registered with two NHS dentists. One where I used to live, and hope to return to shortly, and one where I am living temporarily.
JagLover said:
It is very much location dependent.
I am currently registered with two NHS dentists. One where I used to live, and hope to return to shortly, and one where I am living temporarily.
That is very true. My mother and step father live in the next county to us and seem to have no difficulty getting appointments. He had a toothache recently, and got an appointment the next day. Tooth needed to come out, appointment within two days. Same with the doctors. Face to face appointments as and when required, normally the next day. Even the hospitals seem better, with appointments available the next month. I am currently registered with two NHS dentists. One where I used to live, and hope to return to shortly, and one where I am living temporarily.
Red9zero said:
That is very true. My mother and step father live in the next county to us and seem to have no difficulty getting appointments. He had a toothache recently, and got an appointment the next day. Tooth needed to come out, appointment within two days. Same with the doctors. Face to face appointments as and when required, normally the next day. Even the hospitals seem better, with appointments available the next month.
I need to move. What county is this 
My wife needed some urgent work and our NHS dentist gave her the same "it's been over two years, you're no longer registered here" spiel. Then two hours later they rang her back and said that they'd looked at her file, and as she'd never missed an appointment and always paid on time they'd make an exception and reinstate her. Which was nice.
I think it’s partly due to how NHS dentists are ‘funded’.
If patients don’t see them for a long time (no check ups etc), then just turn up when they have a big problem, it’s often unaffordable for the dentist to treat them under the banding/UDA system. Equally, NHS dentists don’t get paid when patients miss appointments (but still have to pay themselves, their staff, etc.).
People think NHS dentists are just like NHS doctors, but they aren’t. The funding model is very different.
Since the inception of the NHS, dentistry has never really been properly integrated nor funded, in my opinion.
If patients don’t see them for a long time (no check ups etc), then just turn up when they have a big problem, it’s often unaffordable for the dentist to treat them under the banding/UDA system. Equally, NHS dentists don’t get paid when patients miss appointments (but still have to pay themselves, their staff, etc.).
People think NHS dentists are just like NHS doctors, but they aren’t. The funding model is very different.
Since the inception of the NHS, dentistry has never really been properly integrated nor funded, in my opinion.
croyde said:
Red9zero said:
That is very true. My mother and step father live in the next county to us and seem to have no difficulty getting appointments. He had a toothache recently, and got an appointment the next day. Tooth needed to come out, appointment within two days. Same with the doctors. Face to face appointments as and when required, normally the next day. Even the hospitals seem better, with appointments available the next month.
I need to move. What county is this 
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