The dentist struck off my 4 year old son

[Cornishcharm]

Ok so, in October I had to rearrange my sons dentist appointment because it was his first parents evening. I gave a weeks notice and rearranged for November.

We were about to leave for my sons appointment and he wants to go for a poo. So I called the dentist and explained that we were going to be late (15 minutes max). I asked if he could still be seen i.e. let other patients go first or if that wasn't possible could I rearrange it.

Now I hate cancelling like that and the only other time I have had the cancel his appointment previously was when he had D&V and I wasn't able to give 24 hours notice.

The receptionist told me that I couldn't bring him as he wouldn't be seen and that he had been struck off.

We have never received and formal notice that he could be struck off.

I have submitted a formal complaint about this, which I should hear back from by the 25th November.

AIBU to think that can't strike a 4 year old off without any warning? Does anybody know what the rules are with NHS dentists (I know they operate a 2 strikes and your out).

Thanks

[PixieDustt]

You don't need to pay a cancellation fee as he is child and under the NHS meaning his treatment is free.

At the practice I work put it is 2 strikes and you're out (tbh unless they are really bad at attending we usually let the 2 slide for certain reasons).
You have to receive a letter for the first missed appointment and one for the second short notice missed appointment. They can't just strike you off without it in writing. Take it up with the practice manager - ask for a meeting.

[Gingerkittykat]

My NHS dentist charges for no shows or cancelling at very short notice, I think it is £15. Can you phone the practice and offer to pay a cancellation fee and see if that makes a difference?

[VenusTiger]

*yes not yeas

[VenusTiger]

@spanglydangly yeas, I never thought of that - I’m too honest [grins] and yes you’re right, she shouldn’t have left it till the last minute to leave the house.

[Tolleshunt]

I know the same policy applies to hospital appointments, two strikes and you are out, even if you cancel with plenty of notice and not on the day.

Outrageous, given they just dish out an appointment (sometimes at very short notice), and give the patient no chance to choose a doable tome, or even express a preference.

[havingtochangeusernameagain]

I also think penalising for D&V is ridiculous. Did they really want the OP to take her son in and give everyone a bug? She can suggest doing that next time and see what they say!. I know the same policy applies to hospital appointments, two strikes and you are out, even if you cancel with plenty of notice and not on the day.

15 mins for a poo is a long time Depends on the child, surely?

[Tolleshunt]

Rearranging with some notice is not a big deal at all, and may even be helpful, as it may allow emergencies to be squeezed in. The short notice ones will be more problematic, but penalising for d&v is ridiculous.

Ask the dentist for his/her revolutionary tips on how to avert d&v/schedule it for a more convenient time. Medical schools and journals around the world will be clamouring to hear about it, and if (s)/he can patent it they will be able to retire before Christmas.

[Sirzy]

Ye and every 6 months from 6 months old is 8 or 9 appointments to being 4 (and that’s if they are every 6 months exactly!)

[runoutofideasnow]

@Sirzy my sons been going since 6mo.

[Sirzy]

He is 4, so working on 6 monthly appointments he has only had about 8 dentist appointments and you have rearranged 3 of them. Two with short notice.

I can see why the dentist isn’t impressed!

[BellyButton85]

I notice OP hasn't returned. Probably read the first few and felt too much of a dick to come back.
Or her son is taking a very long poo

[TheDarkPassenger]

@MrsFrankDrebin

I feel the same way as you about the nhs and people thinking it’s ok to mess around cos it’s ‘free’ and I’m in the uk!

[LolaSmiles]

Two strikes makes sense, but I don't think D&V should have counted first time.

That said, some dentists can be needlessly awkward. I had an appointment straight from work, left enough float time, but there was a large accident on the main dual carriageway which was causing major delays in all directions. I called ahead and said what had happened, it was all over the local news and radio updates. I told them I'd already got enough float so should be there but might be 1/2 mins late. They said it's fine.
When I got there 1-2 mins late, they refused to see me because they'd had a notification on the computer that it was classed as late. I wouldn't have minded if they'd just said up front 25 minutes earlier that they'd not see me, but to say they'd see me, let me sit through accident traffic only to say "oh no" somewhat pissed me off.

[spanglydangly]

@VenusTiger do you really think that people who had just changed their minds, somethings come up wouldn't use the d&v excuse if it meant not being struck off?

As for people minding their own business about how long a poo takes, if your child has this need then aim to get to appointments early. She'd already missed one.

The dentist is running a business and if everyone missed two appointments then it wouldn't work.

See the link below the OP is wasting very valuable resource.

[spanglydangly]

How many appointments has your ds actually made it to on time?

Good question!

[spanglydangly]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50467776

[VenusTiger]

I’m astounded that being ill with d&v counts as a strike! Ffs, it’s not planned is it!
I agree with you OP - I think this will be one strike on the poo thing.
PPs making comments about how long it takes to have a poo - mind your own business! My DS is six and he takes for bloody ever!

[CorBlimeyGovenor]

Why did you bother phoning?surely that just wasted more time? I can't see how a poo would take more than five mins? And if you'd shown up 5-10 mins late you probably still would have been seen.

[Besidesthepoint]

You shouldn't olan to be on time, you should plan to be always at least ten minutes early.

[Notodontidae]

Life is about a series of hurdles we keep having to jump over, it has got so impersonal that mitigating cercumstances do not feature in it. Your late getting back to the car because your watch has stopped, you didn't see the double yellow lines, or clamping notice, you got a flat tyre on the way to work. Nobody cares. Every time I go to the Dentist, I see a different one, as the previous one has left. Just one of those things we all have to deal with.

[Piccalillies]

How many appointments has your ds actually made it to on time?

[Epanoui]

I think perhaps you should feed your son more fruit and vegetables. 15 minutes for a poo is absolutely not normal.

[stucknoue]

The d&v fair enough but not needing the toilet, you should never be cutting it that fine. I always arrive 10 mins early just for me. Yes I've had 2 kids, no we were never late for appointments despite having a kid with sn, you just need to be organised and realise that people won't wait for you

[NoSquirrels]

Perhaps the dentist receptionist was fed up of bowel-related delays and thinks you’re the poo troll...?

[DotBall]

My old dentist wanted to take me off the list because I hadn’t been for 18m. Never missed an appointment ever in my life.

I now have a new dentist who doesn’t insist on 6m or 12m checkups to stay on their list.

OP I can sympathise with you and your DS needing a poo, but it sounds like you were cutting it far too tight with timing.