Any Dentists out there?

Any Dentists out there?

Author
Discussion

breamster

Original Poster:

1,042 posts

187 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
Odd question I know but...

I think my NHS dentist is running a bit of a scam and need some info.

Are there any guidelines as to what constitues a standard NHS checkup?

Also, the dentist nearly always postpones 6 month appointments by approx 3 months - is there any benefit to the practice in terms of their funding?

Cheers.

Wings

5,840 posts

222 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
Either telephone 08458501166 or http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/DentalServices.aspx

bonsai

2,015 posts

187 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
breamster said:
Also, the dentist nearly always postpones 6 month appointments by approx 3 months - is there any benefit to the practice in terms of their funding?
Cheers.
That is puzzling.. If they do that, then they can only charge you for unnecessary, pointless and expensive work 2/3rds as often.

MacGee

2,513 posts

237 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
email me.....

extending the interval is good. you dont need to be seen if your mouth is healthy and frees up time for NHS access waiting times for those who are in need . all as per NICE guidelines. so he is doing you and the nation a favour.

Edited by MacGee on Tuesday 3rd November 20:41

J-c

419 posts

182 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
Ask Rach she might know boxedin

-Z-

6,569 posts

213 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
Whoa whoa, before getting the authorities involved, why not outline the perceived scam on here?

breamster

Original Poster:

1,042 posts

187 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies.

I'll take a look at the link.

Macgee - PM sent.

Want to check my facts before I start accusing people and making anything formal.

Rollin

6,165 posts

252 months

Wednesday 4th November 2009
quotequote all
Examinations can now be done between 3 and 24 months apart. The dentist is not obliged to send you any reminder at all.

You are not registered at an NHS practice because registration doesn't exist anymore. The government got rid of it so that they could say that everyone now has access to NHS care.

Increasing the recall time is encouraged, and in future will no doubt be enforced, by your local PCT. It allows for more new patients (who might not have attended for years) to be seen.

The dentist gets the same contract value either way. When the dentist reaches his government imposed treatment target, then NHS treatment at the practice will cease for that year.

If the dentist sees you on the NHS after his target has been achieved, he's doing it for free. He will still have to pay his staff wages and other overheads though.

If the dentist is really busy and has waiting lists etc, it would be nice to get some help in.
The PCT will not allow this because issuing a new contract costs them money which the government will not fund.

The only scam here was when the government introduced the new dental contract in 2006

-Z-

6,569 posts

213 months

Wednesday 4th November 2009
quotequote all
Rollin said:
When the dentist reaches his government imposed treatment target, then NHS treatment at the practice will cease for that year.

If the dentist sees you on the NHS after his target has been achieved, he's doing it for free. He will still have to pay his staff wages and other overheads though.
Yeah I think we went 2000 UDAs over!

Thats around £40000 worth of free treatment that our surgery gave away.

Rach*

8,824 posts

223 months

Thursday 5th November 2009
quotequote all
J-c said:
Ask Rach she might know boxedin
wavey

I don't do NHS tongue out

breamster

Original Poster:

1,042 posts

187 months

Friday 6th November 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for the info.

Sounds like the dentist in question is not running a scam as such but certainly taking plenty of shortcuts.

First suspicion was why appointments are always delayed by 3 months.

Second irritation was taking about 30 seconds to perform a checkup just by looking at the teeth. No other methods used, no airline, no prodding etc. Just looking with a dental mirror. No xrays in 3 1/2 years I've been going there either.

Time to look elsehwere I think.

Cheers.

PS. 30 seconds is not an exaggeration by the way
PPS. £16.50 charged for the 30 seconds checkup is *technically* £1980 per hour!!

Driller

8,310 posts

285 months

Friday 6th November 2009
quotequote all
breamster said:
Thanks for the info.

Sounds like the dentist in question is not running a scam as such but certainly taking plenty of shortcuts.

First suspicion was why appointments are always delayed by 3 months.

Second irritation was taking about 30 seconds to perform a checkup just by looking at the teeth. No other methods used, no airline, no prodding etc. Just looking with a dental mirror. No xrays in 3 1/2 years I've been going there either.

Time to look elsehwere I think.

Cheers.

PS. 30 seconds is not an exaggeration by the way
PPS. £16.50 charged for the 30 seconds checkup is *technically* £1980 per hour!!
Have you considered how much it costs the poor chap to run his Bentley?

I suggest that you should be more understanding in future.









































wink

Vron

2,538 posts

216 months

Friday 6th November 2009
quotequote all
My sisters a Dentist and one day a patient stormed into the waiting room and stated he 'wasn't paying for all those fancy cars outside' and stormed off! Practice is NHS by the way .laugh

pacman1

7,323 posts

200 months

Friday 6th November 2009
quotequote all
Anyone met a poor dentist? biggrin

eta, Seriously.

Edited by pacman1 on Friday 6th November 19:52

MacGee

2,513 posts

237 months

Friday 6th November 2009
quotequote all
yes....all NHS.

pacman1

7,323 posts

200 months

Friday 6th November 2009
quotequote all
When was the last time anyone heard of a dentist going bankrupt?

Vron

2,538 posts

216 months

Friday 6th November 2009
quotequote all
MacGee said:
yes....all NHS.
I don't call a six figure salary for 4 days a week 9-5 poor!!!??

Rach*

8,824 posts

223 months

Friday 6th November 2009
quotequote all
Vron said:
My sisters a Dentist and one day a patient stormed into the waiting room and stated he 'wasn't paying for all those fancy cars outside' and stormed off! Practice is NHS by the way .laugh
rofl

Wouldnt happen at our place, there's me outside - bonnet up filling the coolant before I can drive home and the boss who drives in a red & black VW van!

pauldavies85

423 posts

193 months

Friday 6th November 2009
quotequote all
quite funny, the BBC corp. dentist went bust, we have one of the chairs.

I drive a p reg peugeot that won't lock. That way any sh~t hole of an area the PCT (NHS) place you/your practice, I will still have a car to go home in.


\sorry bad week - working with the general public does that!


MacGee

2,513 posts

237 months

Saturday 7th November 2009
quotequote all
Vron said:
MacGee said:
yes....all NHS.
I don't call a six figure salary for 4 days a week 9-5 poor!!!??
all deluded Sun headlines I'm afraid.
same as poor bookie/plumber/farmer etc.