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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
needsomewarmsunshine · 18/11/2024 15:29

ByHardyRubyEagle · 18/11/2024 14:15

Go private. You get to see a dentist in a reasonable amount of time, and the service is better.

That's great if you can afford it. I certainly can't nor can millions of others on a regular basis.

DBD1975 · 18/11/2024 15:23

This will just be an automated response to a missed appointment. As soon as you explain what has happened they will put you back on their patient register I wouldn't worry.

TortillasAndSalsa · 18/11/2024 15:18

You were supposed to rearrange having your stroke until after being at the dentist of course 😏 hope you manage to get it sorted and get seen by the dentist soon

Strawberrypicnic · 18/11/2024 15:09

I go to a very nice private dentist that until recently price matched their checkups with the NHS. They have now increased their prices slightly, but only by about £10 per checkup. Have a look around your area to see if something similar is on offer.

Obviously the overall affordability depends if you tend to need work doing. If you regularly need treatment I am not sure how the costs would stack up versus the NHS.

Wendolino · 18/11/2024 15:06

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Wegovypictures · 18/11/2024 15:03

I wouldn't panic - most likely the message is automatic when you're listed as a non attender, and when they catch up on the messages they'll realise. Just contact them again by email/walk in and explain

CutthroatDruTheViolent · 18/11/2024 14:54

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.

I had similar when I booked my son in to see the orthodontist - did it online and was suspicious when it offered me a 7pm appointment. Luckily I called to check and they sorted it for me, I think they would have been ok anyway but still!!!

RedHelenB · 18/11/2024 14:52

Icanttakethisanymore · 18/11/2024 14:29

Which of these two situations do you think she should have avoided (or rescheduled to a time that didn’t clash with her dentist appointment)?

  1. Having a stroke
  2. Having covid
Show quote history

I'd have tested for Covid the day before ( although as OP demonstrate she had symptoms then there really was no need) so I could give 24 hours notice. And I don't know any dentist without a receptionist, so not being able to get through sounds a bit of an excuse.

Locutus2000 · 18/11/2024 14:49

This is a classic 'ask to speak to the manager' situation. In this case, I would just ring them and ask to speak to someone senior, it is more likely to be resolved with a conversation. There may be no need for an 'appeal'.

I've gone over my missed appointment limit but profuse apologies have prevented me from getting kicked.

Is it part of a chain such as mydentist?

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.

Icanttakethisanymore · 18/11/2024 14:30

housethatbuiltme · 18/11/2024 14:28

Only on mumsnet would someone not only think but express something this mental lol.

Show quote history

Peak MN madness right there.

Icanttakethisanymore · 18/11/2024 14:29

RedHelenB · 18/11/2024 14:20

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

Which of these two situations do you think she should have avoided (or rescheduled to a time that didn’t clash with her dentist appointment)?

  1. Having a stroke
  2. Having covid
Fargo79 · 18/11/2024 14:28

Pickandmixmood · 18/11/2024 14:04

Hmm, you do seem to have a dramatic life. I suspect you are not telling the whole truth about your history with this dental surgery.

Show quote history

How silly.

housethatbuiltme · 18/11/2024 14:28

Pickandmixmood · 18/11/2024 14:04

Hmm, you do seem to have a dramatic life. I suspect you are not telling the whole truth about your history with this dental surgery.

Show quote history

Only on mumsnet would someone not only think but express something this mental lol.

ILikeItWhatIsIt · 18/11/2024 14:27

My guess is that those questionnaires are just a hangover from right after the pandemic. Interested to hear if you had any symptoms and if you did, would you have still gone if your test was negative?

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.

IdgieThreadgoodeIsMyHeroine · 18/11/2024 14:21

Pickandmixmood · 18/11/2024 14:04

Hmm, you do seem to have a dramatic life. I suspect you are not telling the whole truth about your history with this dental surgery.

Show quote history

You must have a very boring life if the OP's life strikes you as dramatic based on those two incidents!

RedHelenB · 18/11/2024 14:20

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

ByHardyRubyEagle · 18/11/2024 14:20

Redgreenred10 · 18/11/2024 14:16

ByHardyRubyEagle
does it not cost I lot more. I am willing to pay a bit more

I’m not wealthy, not by a long shot, and having moved around a few times I didn’t retain my childhood NHS dentist. I looked at Denplan and now pay £15 per month, and given that I needed dental treatment I kind of had to do it. Once I got over the initial annoyance at there being no NHS dentists taking on new patients in my area, it became clear that it was the only option, but I like my dentist, I can see them regularly, and are friendly. The only thing that I really resent is that my child doesn’t get free dental care, which is absurd.

Original poster
Redgreenred10 · 18/11/2024 14:16

ByHardyRubyEagle
does it not cost I lot more. I am willing to pay a bit more

OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 18/11/2024 14:16

If you can use your call log to demonstrate that you tried to phone to cancel, then appeal. When did you last attend the dentist? Many practices now have a policy that NHS patients must attend for a check up every six months or they’ll remove you from the list.

Original poster
Redgreenred10 · 18/11/2024 14:15

Oh yeah I do have a history with this dentist I forgot I once cried in the dentist chair when I was 6 and again when I was 7. You are right they should have struck me off the list.

OP posts:
ByHardyRubyEagle · 18/11/2024 14:15

Go private. You get to see a dentist in a reasonable amount of time, and the service is better.

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.

Original poster
Redgreenred10 · 18/11/2024 14:13

Sorry I should not have described them as anal. I understand why but they need to realised sometimes you cant give 24 hours of covid or covid symptoms

OP posts: