Is my dentist practice being U?

[EricNorthmansmistress]

Sign in the dentist today -

To ALL Patients -
Please do blardy blah

To NHS Patients -
please ensure you understand the pricing structure and ask if not
please keep all appointments or be struck off list
Please do not wear clothes with oil or paint on
Please be patient, this is not macdonalds and we provide quality not quantity - there may be delays in appoitntments

AIBU to think this is patronising drivel and a bleedin liberty?

[Kevlarhead]

WTF? YANBU...

[BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny]

My dentist has one similar, it also tells us to make sure we smell nice (I'm not an NHS patient by the way)

[jasper]

I m a dentist who provided all treatment under the NHS.

What a totally bizarre sign.

I think there is a chance that the dentist(s) do not know about this , but that other staff members have taken it upon themselves to put up such a sign!

Over the years I have known staff members to out up some dodgy signs without running it past the dentists. Never anything on this scale, however

I would ask your dentist about the sign.

[EricNorthmansmistress]

Oh yes it does remind us to brush our teeth too! But paying customers don't need to be reminded of that!

[EricNorthmansmistress]

Really? I might. I was pretty shocked when I read it, nearly laughed out loud at the absurdity. Especially the bit about dirty clothes and it not being macdonalds!

[honeydragon]

uanbu

Why would anyone want to pay to go there if they treat people this way?????

[Tiredmumno1]

Terrible service, find a different just on the principal of the matter

[Tiredmumno1]

I meant find a different dentist. sorry its late you know.

[JustAnotherManicMummy]

Because all NHS patients are soap-doging scum aren't they

I'm be asking the person behind the desk who was responsible for the sign and then take them apart (verbally) limb by limb.

[jasper]

PLEASE ask your dentist if he/she knows about this sign!

[somebodysfool]

I use NHS dentists as I always have and have been fairly satisfied with the care although they are now as rare as hens teeth (excuse the pun). I would be livid if that was in my dentist and I would ask them to remove it. If they didn't I would put a complaint in writing copying in my local newspaper for good measure. Its very insulting and is blatant discrimination and it would make me feel like a second class citizen which is obviously the point.

I was also appalled recently when I tried to book a family appointment in Feb and was told an appointment was not available until mid April due to NHS funding running out for that financial year. Luckily it was just the 6 monthly one but what if one of us had needed urgent treatment I suppose we would have had to pay private rates.

[GibbonInARibbon]

What an odd sign

Time to change practice I think.

[DaftApeth]

Do they have designated ares for NHS and non-NHS patients i.e. scruffy, paint covered chairs on one side and posh leather armchairs on the other?

I'd definitely take it up with the dentists and point out how offensive and inappropriate the sign is.

[differentnameforthis]

Totally bizarre! Of all the practices I have worked in, none of them would EVER consider it good manners/customer relations to put up such a condescending sign!

Agree with jasper, check with your dentist/practice manager...am astounded at this!

[Aussieng]

Outrageous! Yanbu.

I like the idea of taking the person behind the desk apart but all dentist and doctors now have those signs about staff will not tolerate abuse and they don't mean abuse they actually mean reasonable complaints...it's code for "our service and attitude can be as cr*p as we like"

[Mouseface]

'Please be patient, this is not macdonalds and we provide quality not quantity - there may be delays in appoitntments'

So none NHS patients don't eat fast food? No?

How very odd, and rude.

I'd take my business elsewhere after going in with a MacDonalds in hand and complaining!!!!

[somebodysfool]

Actually why don't you name and shame and we can phone them up to either complain or enquire if NHS patients have a separate waiting room so they don't need to offend us with their presence.

[sanielle]

Report them to the NHS, or take a pic and write your local newspaper. That is patronising rubbish. You are a bunch of oily working class so and sos..

[EricNorthmansmistress]

Thanks all! It is mad isn't it? I'm going to ask about it next time i go in. Perhaps they have had lots of abuse from NHS patients for having to wait..I don't know. The oily/dirty clothes thing is just so weird. Do they assume all NHS patients are builders or something? Very odd.

It's toothsmart in hove, btw!

[JustAnotherManicMummy]

And here's their website.

This bit: Tooth Smart welcomes all patients that are serious or want to be serious about their oral health care. We only ask our patients to visit the surgery regurarly, invest in a good electric tooth brush, flossing twice a day and committing to seeing the hygienist 3 -4 times a year. Good oral health is not only up to the dental team, but the individual. We welcome patients that want to committ to good oral hygiene!

is just bizarre... They are dental nazis!

[differentnameforthis]

JAMM

"This bit: Tooth Smart welcomes all patients that are serious or want to be serious about their oral health care. We only ask our patients to visit the surgery regurarly, invest in a good electric tooth brush, flossing twice a day and committing to seeing the hygienist 3 -4 times a year. Good oral health is not only up to the dental team, but the individual. We welcome patients that want to committ to good oral hygiene!"

That doesn't make then dental nazis! That's just some sound advice, covering what most (all?) dentists want/need their pt's to do!

Time & time again I have seen teeth being fixed, gum disease being cured, only to see the pt 6 months (often more) later & they have MORE holes, more decay, more gum disease. So I think that they are right in telling pts that they need to look after their own teeth too.

But as I said, the sign they have put up is ridiculous!

[jasper]

well said differentname.
I thought it was a good website.

Terrible sign though. I am dying to know whether OP asked the dentist about it

[JustAnotherManicMummy]

ROFL. I just thought they sounded so up themselves. What if someone wants to use a manual toothbrush?!

I think there's a difference between recommending a course of action and insisting upon it. And that is very insistant. And I can see how easy it would be to go from that website to the content of the sign. It's the tone I think.

I thought the website quite pretentious. Yes, oral health is important... but if you're really, really honest do you or anyone you know do all that every single day?

[EricNorthmansmistress]

I'm going back next week, I will ask the dentist!