What's happening with NHS dentists?

[Nix32]

If you're an NHS patient, are your dentists doing normal check ups yet? I don't understand why private dentists can do everything, but NHS seem to still be on emergency only appointments. I've been asked to call back in April.

Our NHS dentists have been so dire that we have had to go private. This is for emergency treatment and the NHS wait was 4 weeks. Outrageous. Think it varies hugely depending on your dentist.

I've just had a letter from my NHS dentist inviting me to book for a check up and pointing out I haven't been seen since 2019 - which may have something to do with the fact that they were closed for most of 2020. Have just phoned up and booked one for early April, which was a pleasant surprise.

pointing out I haven't been seen since 2019 - which may have something to do with the fact that they were closed for most of 2020.
Well quite. It's not like I didn't ask if they were doing check-ups, so I would feel quite miffed if I then got chucked off their books for not attending.

We managed to get routine appointments at the end of January having not being able to have one all of 2020. Slightly more consulted way of getting them made but all done now

Fortunate ours is up and running. In fact we all had checkups today. Any further treatments are booked in for next week and the week after.

Convoluted not consulted!

Mine opened back up in the summer & kept in touch with patients by email about what was happening, how to book, how it would all work etc.

I suspect it’s the same as the wild variation you see when people post about trying to book a GP appointment - which I realise doesn’t help any, sorry.

DS and I had our checks ups today and are booked in for next ones already

All the nhs dentists within a 2 mile radius said they were too full to register new nhs patients (although could see them privately).

One said I could join the waiting list, I’m roughly number 200.

Another said I could join the waiting list but they’ve not accepted new nhs patients since 2015

I can’t find a local dentist that will take a new NHS patient. Been looking for months. Had to get some emergency treatment through the regional emergency dental service.

Flaming hell @GreySkyClouds & @Giraffey1, that’s dreadful.

If you’ve not already done so, according to The NHS you should contact them about your inability to register with an NHS dentist; & if unsatisfied with their answer, contact The Parliamentary & Health Ombudsman to make a complaint. (I don’t trust MN not to fall over & take my post with it if I try checking that the procedure runs on parallel lines in Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales, sorry.)

We got a text yesterday saying that they are now open for checkups following NHS guidance.

Thanks, Marie. I’ll see what I can find on line. The nHS info was spectacularly unhelpful!