To think this is ridiculous if impossible (NHS appointments)

[itsgettingweird]

So just taken DS (15) for dental check up.

X ray showed needs very small filling on a back tooth. (Please no comments on this it's due to genetic condition which can affect teeth and not hygiene or diet)

Go to book appointment at reception.

Say mocks for next 3 weeks starting Monday so can only be after school during this period and really needs to be after school as not supposed to take them out for dental appointments (especially as he's year 11).

Tell me first appointment available is in 4.5 away anyway.
Ok.
But a) it's daytime and b) he has a consultant appointment 20 minutes after that time 20 miles away.

They have nothing else available until new year and closed over Xmas period. (Fair enough)

But here's where it's stupid (IMO!) they MUST under NHS guidelines do any treatment within 8 weeks.

So within next 8 weeks they are closed for 1 and only available appointment is impossible. So when I say either give me the one 9.5 weeks from today you have (just needs to leave school 30 mins early) or you'll have to find an appointment in next 7 weeks before you close they say they can't. Literally say they cannot do treatment!

So when I say fine - give me practice managers name, local contact for NHS and I'll ask them and MP for help they give me the appointment in 9.5 weeks.

AIBU to think if you must have treatment in a timeframe they are responsible for creating an appointment in the timeframe and not to blame patient because they can't attend the only 1 appointment they have available?

I can't believe how many people cannot grasp that you were NOT complaining about the appointment at 9.5 weeks!

Read the OP....the dental practice were trying to force her to book the appointment within the 8 week time frame, only offering one appointment that clashed with a consultant appointment. The receptionist then tried to refuse booking the appointment for 9.5 weeks away.

OP you were not BU, and I am glad that they finally saw sense and gave you the appointment requested.

NHS dental treatment is limited as many dentists are private only.

Private won't cost much and better than how much worse it could potentially get in nearly 10 weeks.

Our NHS one keeps cancelling apts on the day. I didn't see a dentist for 18m because of This. They often had just one apt so I made sure ds had it but still waited weeks.
I'm in process of changing and I'm lucky that we have a few NHS ones that are accepting atm.

OP wanted and would have taken the later appointment, she wasn't a complaining about that, she's complaining that because the my won't let her have the later appointment because the single appointment within the right week times frame he can't attend and we're going to refuse treatment full stop.

Op isn't being precious or enititled and wasn't expecting an appointment to be created out of thin air to meet her personal needs, she would have taken and wanted to take the nine week one but computer said no because it's outside of the eight weeks.

My husband had had testicle cancer this year and his chemo clashed with another medical appointment to do with back issues, they didn't turn round and because you have chemo and can't attend this single appointment we are unable to book you a later one so tough shit buddy. They gave home one for a month or so after his chemo was finished.

I think people are misreading what the OP has said.

Price. Can you explain why when the only appointment available clashes with an already booked nhs appointment (which referral was made in July for) means I embarrassed myself. I simply said I can't attend that appointment, I can attend the one in January. They refused me that. They insisted I must have the appointment in 8 weeks yet continuously then said "we have no appointments". I asked them what that meant and they said that they couldn't offer the treatment they'd prescribed. I accepted this and asked for details of who to complain to then as I realised it's nhs rules and not the dentists receptionist fault.

I was honestly totally taken aback. I've never ever come across this before and ds has 4 hospital consultants, 2 therapist and 3 educational consultants he's under. I'd realised we are lucky as have heard stories of the system failing (however both my Laurent's who have cancer have also had amazing care).

I
They did offer me to switch to a private patient of theirs. This told me something I declined (can't afford it unfortunately)

Spot on mocks. Except the appointment was no can do as he has neurogentics that day! At our local hospital because the actual main hospital in 60 miles away. Very lucky to get an appointment within the 16 weeks there so he misses less school. just PE (not gcse subject) and some lunchtime!