To think I was just fleeced by the dentist?

[LunarGirl]

I'm really not sure whether I've paid way more than I should have here or if I'm just not understanding the NHS charges.

A part of my wisdom tooth fell out yesterday so I phoned the dentist I last used (I'm terrified and haven't been in 3 years which is awful, I know) and explained what had happened and asked of they had an appointment. The receptionist told me they couldn't see me yesterday but did have an available slot this morning. The dentist said the tooth needs extracting but she can't get enough access to do it herself so has referred me to hospital. She put a dressing over it for now.

I went to pay and was told it was £50. I asked why so high when I'm an NHS patient and was told that because I haven't been for a check up for 18 months I revert back to a new patient. Charge is £35 for an emergency appointment. Plus £15 for the dressing.

I've had a look online and I was under the impression that it cost £20.60 for an NHS emergency appointment. It also says that a dentist can't charge you for a private examination before they accept you as an NHS patient. So surely even if I'd been reverted back to new patient status I should still only have had to pay the NHS charge? Or have I read it completely wrong?

I've paid it now so not much I can do but I am a bit annoyed. Especially as I'll have another at least £56 to pay when I go for my "regular" check up and subsequent treatment next week.

£15 for a dressing!
It's certainly more than I'd have expected to pay, three years since the last a appointment or not!

I think you've been overcharged, but don't know how to take it further. I think your first complaint has to be to the practice, I'd put it in writing,.

My dentist will only accept kids as nhs if the parents are registered at private. A kids appointment private ia £30. If i register to get them free it wpuld cost me £80 as they would require me to have a new patient check! So it is cheaper to pay for my kids! Than for me to register and use them as it would cost me a fortune. Im regostered at a nhs dentist but they arent accepting new patients

You have been over charged.

I dont think you have been at ours it 20 for check up any work dressing or filling is 50 if you have the work done in a month they take the 20 off the 50 so it would be 30 to pay if you have it done after the month you pay 50 so i would have expected to pay 50 at my dentist. They have a poster on wall explaing it at ours but not sure if different trusts would be the same ?

Oh should of said im in north east

You've been treated as a private patient, having emergency treatment. It sounds reasonable to me. They can pretty much charge as they want for this.

There are three bands to NHS treatment, sounds like they've reaccepted you as an NHS patient and are charging you Band two next time.

It's all perfectly normal. You're lucky they've reaccepted you.

It's normal.

I left the UK 9 years ago, but my dentist there (NHS) insisted on annual check ups or you "fell off" their NHS list. So, whether I wanted to or not, I had to have an annual check up to remain as an NHS patient. Of course I did, because I wanted to stay on the NHS list!

It's all so confusing. NHS England says that a dentist must not "make you pay privately for an examination to assess whether you will be accepted for NHS treatment" but then as it was classed as an emergency appointment (which I was not aware of in any case) does that mean that doesn't apply?

If the receptionist had told me on the phone about the charges I could have phoned around other dentists to at least explore my options/prices. I thought it was quite sneaky to allow me to go in, have the treatment and then get told about their policy when I obviously didn't then have a choice.

Their website does have the charges for new patient emergency in their T&C's. It says "New Patients Emergencies – £35 including one X- ray. Only the tooth in question will be addressed at this visit. If you wish only to be seen as an nhs patient we will try our best to see you at the earliest opportunity but we may not have nhs appointments available at short notice."

The only error in all that was the prices weren't explained to you before the treatment and ideally they should have been.

You weren't assessed privately to see if you could be treated on the NHS. You were seen as an emergency patient and charged as one - privately.

You're not registered yet, as when you attend next they will give you a full check up and give you a treatment plan - all under the NHS, when you sign the blue form - you are registered as a NHS patient for two years.

Just coming back with an update. I'm really annoyed now. Went back for my NHS check up today (which I was assured was an NHS one by the receptionist when I booked it) only to be told that actually I needed to pay another £35 for this check up. This dentist is actively advertising outside that they are accepting new NHS patients. I pointed out the NHS England website where it says they can't do what they are doing and she just kept repeating that it is their policy. I asked her if I have this new patient check up could she guarantee that the work after would be NHS charges and she said she couldn't guarantee it it all depends on what the dentist finds. Surely this isn't right?

I didn't end up seeing the dentist. Not without knowing how much I was going to end up having to pay. If they only want private patients why are they saying they are accepting NHS ones?