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AIBU?

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Original poster

To appeal being thrown off the dentist nhs register

118 replies

Redgreenred10 · 18/11/2024 13:49

Been with my dentist 30 years. This afternoon I had an appointment and this morning I tested positive for covid. Now I know you don’t have to test anymore but my best friends daughter has complex disabilities and covid could be fatal so my best friend has provided her family and friends with covid test and just asks if we can a quick test before we come round. I was due to go round after the dentist.

now the dentist is still really anal re covid and a few days before sent me a questionnaire asking if I had any symptoms and if I did my appointment would have to be cancelled.

So after testing positive i rang the dentist 6 times and could not get through so I left a message explaining.

I have just received a message saying due to missing my appointment I am now removed from the NHS register. Basically for following their own guidelines. I have tried to ring again (can’t get through) so I have sent an email.

trying to get through to the dentist is a nightmare. You are are kept on hold for 1
minute and then you are passed through to the message service. I rang 6 times before leaving a message so I really tried to get in touch

OP posts:
Boysgrownbutstillathome · 19/11/2024 18:09

Redgreenred10 · 18/11/2024 14:00

Unfortunately I rang on the house phone so no call log

It will be on your phone bill.

BooBooDoodle · 19/11/2024 18:05

This happened to me. Unfortunately I didn’t get very far. Last straw for me was when they said they were full and I missed an appointment due to Covid which I called 48hrs in advance to tell them. I went in to challenge them and saw a waiting room of refugees in there with police and social workers. I blew up and wrote a strong letter to my Labour MP. She’s absolutely useless like the rest of them. I still don’t have a dentist.

HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 19/11/2024 17:54

Drakhan · 19/11/2024 17:50

Tell them that you are reporting them to general dental council if you aren’t put back on the register.

They haven’t broken the guidelines though. 2 missed appointments (or short notice cancellations) and you’re out is standard NHS procedure for dentists since they stopped us charging time wasters.

My idea of taking a tin of chocolates and apologising is far more likely to get you another appointment!

Drakhan · 19/11/2024 17:50

Tell them that you are reporting them to general dental council if you aren’t put back on the register.

funinthesun19 · 19/11/2024 14:45

IMHO she should have just gone in while she has covid whether the surgery likes it or not. Tough luck to them.

They can’t have it both ways where they want people with covid to stay away and then the person stays away so the surgery kicks them off the list because they stayed away.

Aligirlbear · 19/11/2024 14:44

downwindofyou · 18/11/2024 20:56

So someone getting hit by a car on their way to the appointment?

Show quote history

Yep !

RedHelenB · 19/11/2024 06:57

downwindofyou · 18/11/2024 20:58

@RedHelenB
The surgery needed 48 hours not 24

Why would anyone bother to come in to MN and create a fake story about the phone not being answered. Really. What would be the point? Do you always change stories to fit your narrative? How peculiar. I don't think forums are for you

What are you on about? Dental surgeries have receptionists. OP didn't prioritise getting through to one , despite knowing there was a possibility of being kicked off the list. She wasted an appointment NHS ones are in short supply.

downwindofyou · 18/11/2024 21:00

WillimNot · 18/11/2024 15:32

Exactly the same happened to DH and they would of budge. It's all to get rid of NHS patients to prioritise and for more people to go private.

It's a disgrace and one which the current government needs to get control of.

Once they find arbitrary reasons to remove their NHS clientele they can then go fully private. It's happening to everyone and they get away with it.

I hope you can find another dentist.

Surely they can just go fully private whenever they wish without some weird process of elimination.

downwindofyou · 18/11/2024 20:58

@RedHelenB
The surgery needed 48 hours not 24

Why would anyone bother to come in to MN and create a fake story about the phone not being answered. Really. What would be the point? Do you always change stories to fit your narrative? How peculiar. I don't think forums are for you

downwindofyou · 18/11/2024 20:56

Aligirlbear · 18/11/2024 14:48

You can try but I’m not sure how far you will get. All NHS dentists can fill their lists several times over and seemingly many now adhere to the one strike and your out rule, regardless of the background situation.

So someone getting hit by a car on their way to the appointment?

downwindofyou · 18/11/2024 20:55

DoublePasta · 18/11/2024 14:24

The last time I was at the dentist there was a woman arguing her case with the practice manager because she had been taken off the list because she had missed her appointment.

She was telling them that she had turned up to her appointment but when she got there the building was closed because it was Good Friday and the practice manager was saying 'yes, I understand that but it was your responsibility to check to see if we were open and you should have changed your appointment'. 🤯🤯🤯

Unfortunately I missed the end of the hoo-haa.

That's insane. If the practice was closed then no appointment was missed

downwindofyou · 18/11/2024 20:54

RedHelenB · 18/11/2024 14:20

I think yabu. You've missed 2 appointments in 3 years. There will be a waiting list.

Missing appointments due to forgetfulness is one thing. Getting Covid and a provable emergency hospital trip are not cause to register someone.

Newname71 · 18/11/2024 20:53

Some dentists are just arseholes!! They seem to forget that they’re dealing with people with lives, families, illness, dramas etc!! Our practice does operate a 2 strikes and you’re out policy (some patients are just time wasters) but we’re always sympathetic to things that are beyond a patients control! No one plans to come down with Covid or to have a stroke or miscarriage!! We would never punish a patient in circumstances like that!

Babbahabba · 18/11/2024 20:43

I knowingly went to my NHS dentist with covid for this very reason. No way am I getting stuck off. Selfish? Yep.

Oldgalgames · 18/11/2024 20:38

RobinEllacotStrike · 18/11/2024 14:15

good luck.

My dentist cancelled my appointments due to pandemic, wouldnt make new appointments/reschedule after pandemic. Eventually I went in there and was told I was taken of the NHS list as I didn't have an appointment for 2 years - due to the pandemic & them not making appointments.

I think dentists are looking for any reason however spurious, to shed NHS clients.

This is true this happened to me! I have since gone private, it's a different world, and worth the money in my opinion

Dolly567 · 18/11/2024 20:18

I deducted myself from NHS, it's costing my a fortune now but the negligence ......
They'll do anything not to do the work now, as they don't get paid properly for it it's not worth their time probably.
I've ended up with perio and cracked teeth! I was only there the week before I went for a consultation for cosmetic work.

NHS dental care is shocking, it makes me so so so so angry.

Sorry for the rant!

This country doesn't care how important oral health is for our overall health!

XenoBitch · 18/11/2024 20:04

LivinInYourBigGlassHouseWithAView · 18/11/2024 16:14

Absolutely!

I know people who lost their NHS registrations with dentists after not being seen through the Covid period without warning. Really, really awful treatment of people.

Show quote history

This happened to me too.
I have recently had a few texts from them saying they hadn't seen me in a while, and to book an appointment. Nope... it is private only.

HeadJudgeShirley · 18/11/2024 19:47

TheGoogleMum · 18/11/2024 17:57

My friend got kicked off one for missing 2 appointments. I can't remember the circumstances of one but for the other she was in hospital having a miscarriage. Anyway she has changed dentists

That's horrendous. How heartless.

buffyspikefaithangel · 18/11/2024 19:13

Highlandfandango · 18/11/2024 18:00

I left our nhs dental practice due to the abysmal admin and hostile reception staff. Absolutely adore Denplan; it’s more than paid for itself over the years as my teeth are quite decrepit and all treatment including root canals and implants (except lab fees) is covered (and routine 2 x dentists appts and 3x hygienist visits a year).

Same, I pay 20 something pounds per month

wastingtimeonhere · 18/11/2024 18:56

I believe they want to knock people off the nhs list so they have no option to go private and pay for treatment.

funinthesun19 · 18/11/2024 18:47

RedHelenB · 18/11/2024 14:20

I think yabu. You've missed 2 appointments in 3 years. There will be a waiting list.

Maybe she should have postponed her stroke and arranged it for another day.

OPsSockpuppet · 18/11/2024 18:45

Dentists are hands-down the absolute worst bit of the NHS.

eggseggseggseggs · 18/11/2024 18:38

To be honest if I didn't have any symptoms regardless of the positive Covid test I'd still have gone that's just how life is now

Highlandfandango · 18/11/2024 18:00

I left our nhs dental practice due to the abysmal admin and hostile reception staff. Absolutely adore Denplan; it’s more than paid for itself over the years as my teeth are quite decrepit and all treatment including root canals and implants (except lab fees) is covered (and routine 2 x dentists appts and 3x hygienist visits a year).

TheGoogleMum · 18/11/2024 17:57

My friend got kicked off one for missing 2 appointments. I can't remember the circumstances of one but for the other she was in hospital having a miscarriage. Anyway she has changed dentists