Discrimination against working people?

[Ceci03]

AIBU to think this is discrimination? Have just signed up with a dentist and was lucky to get accepted as an NHS patient. But the receptionist said evening, early morning, and Saturday appointments are only for private patients. Seems unfair. I work in a place where I have to take annual leave for dentist and doctor appointments. Seems unfair but AIBU. Seeing as fulltime workers pay tax which goes to fund the nhs right?

Er, there's no dentists near my work who will accept NHS.

I just see a lot of discrimination. If you're unemployed, you're free any time, if you're on flexible working hours you're more flexible, if you're a SAHM you can be flexible, if you're self-employed you're flexible, if you're retired etc etc. I think it would be a lot fairer if appointments outside say 10-4 were for working people who cant take time off.

Private patients could be flexible?

I wonder what % of private patients work 9-5, and don't have a flexible employer.
Why do we give so much status to the rich in our society.

The “rich” people pay a premium for the service.. therefore they receive a premium rate service...

Apply this to anything else.. it’s not fair rich people get more leg room and beds on planes because they pay more for it.
Bigger houses, nicer cars, clothes, food.. fucking anything.

If they offer you a appointment at 12 you say that actually could you have a morning/later appointment to fit around work.

It's not discriminating, it's prioritising people who pay more of the dentists salary pro rata

I agree op.

My GP surgery has changed the appointment system. You can't book any appointments at all now. For any appointment, routine or urgent, you have to phone at 8am on the day, spend goodness knows how long trying to get through and then, if successful, you don't know when the appointment will be - might be in 20 minutes time or at 6pm. So now, no matter what the appointment is for, you have to take a day off work and possibly multiple days off if there are no appointments available when you get through.

hmm. "prioritising people who pay more of the dentists salary pro rata"
That's the trouble with our society really isn't it.
I think for some things like health care and dental care, your salary should not come into it. It's a basic human right, and the UK is so proud of the NHS, the way it was set up was meant to protect this human right.

If you take that premise, then you eventually come out with the idea that rich people "deserve" better treatment than poor people who have to depend on the government.

Yes totally, it is unacceptable that people cannot even find an NHS dentist. I feel very lucky and privileged. I have a feeling I might have to save up for treatment though, as I think the NHS "treatment" for my bad teeth might be pretty basic - like an empty hole, rather than a crown or bridge.

Your question should be why does your work not allow paid time off for medical appointments? Maybe join a union and start a campaign?

If you take that premise, then you eventually come out with the idea that rich people "deserve" better treatment than poor people who have to depend on the government.

That's capitalism for you.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras - have the exact same problem with my doctor too. I have an appointment tomorrow but don't know if I will be allowed take the half day. I' will have no annual leave left at this rate. It IS discriminatory against working people. IMO.

Be nice to the receptionist, have a chat with him/her when you're in. S/he will then probably bend the rules for you

You're lucky to even get an nhs dentist. It's not discriminatory it's supply and demand and a truly broken system.

"If you take that premise, then you eventually come out with the idea that rich people "deserve" better treatment than poor people who have to depend on the government.

That's capitalism for you."

Yep, it was a genuine MIRACLE that the UK brought in the NHS at all given how capitalist so many of the population are.

i have a feeling I might have to save up for treatment though, as I think the NHS "treatment" for my bad teeth might be pretty basic - like an empty hole, rather than a crown or bridge

As a matter of interest, would you then take an early morning/Saturday appointment?

Can you not offer to make up the time? I WFH if I have an appointment - appreciate not all work lends itself to that.

There is no statutory right per se but your employer is being an arse. They have a duty to protect you from stress, for example, and it would be bloody stressful if you have a toothache and feel the pressure to be in work rather than use up precious annual leave.

Ceci03

I have that problem. Have regular hospital appts (at least 2 per month) in a hospital 2 hours away from where I work and live so I have no opportunity to swap days at work or only take an hour off. Every appointment necessitates me to take a day off from work. Apparently, by law, they don't have to pay you for this so my options are to take it unpaid or to take holiday.

I think it's 3 years now that I've had no actual holiday, it's all been used for medical appointments.

I think the NHS "treatment" for my bad teeth might be pretty basic - like an empty hole, rather than a crown or bridge.

Yes, the NHS provides a basic standard of dental treatment. It isn’t free though.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/dental-health/how-much-will-i-pay-for-nhs-dental-treatment/

Yep, it was a genuine MIRACLE that the UK brought in the NHS at all given how capitalist so many of the population are

It was brought in 70 years ago under a Labour government. If it didn't already exist, it certainly wouldn't be brought in now under the Tories.

Your expectation of a ‘fair society’ is always going to disappoint

Ah god Hearhoovesthinkzebras

"I think it's 3 years now that I've had no actual holiday, it's all been used for medical appointments."

That is shocking

Private dental plans are almost always a work benefit and so it makes sense for dentists to make their appointments available outside working hours, because they make a lot of money seeing these people and would lose out otherwise.

Your expectation of a ‘fair society’ is always going to disappoint

Have the british just given up now then. Given up trying to have a fair and equitable society. It seems so. Obviously there is a legacy there, thank god, but it just seems so many people just accept "that's the way it is" now. If you're rich, you're entitled, if you're poor, be happy with the scraps. If you work, make sure you have a good job, with good conditions and pay, or else you're poor, and fucked too.

Have the british just given up now then. Given up trying to have a fair and equitable society. It seems so.

Judging by the Tory landslide at the last election, you are sadly correct.

The last NHS dentist round here has given a heads up that they'll probably be going fully private soon as the NHS work just isn't worth their while

They've changed their system so NHS appointments can only be booked Mon-Fri 9-5. Their evening appointments, and once monthly Saturdays, are only for private patients. They also charge private patients a premium for those appointments so I can see their point as they previously only opened 9-5 so NHS patients haven't lost anything, it's just that people willing to pay a premium gained.

Private dental plans are almost always a work benefit and so it makes sense for dentists to make their appointments available outside working hours, because they make a lot of money seeing these people and would lose out otherwise.
My employer doesn't have anything like this. It might be there for the rich, well off, well paid jobs. But the normal, "little people", don't have these kind of benefits. Or am I wrong.
Allocating appointments on basis of wealth, seems inequitable and discriminatory. Why not allocate on basis of ability to attend?

*The last NHS dentist round here has given a heads up that they'll probably be going fully private soon as the NHS work just isn't worth their while

They've changed their system so NHS appointments can only be booked Mon-Fri 9-5. Their evening appointments, and once monthly Saturdays, are only for private patients. They also charge private patients a premium for those appointments so I can see their point as they previously only opened 9-5 so NHS patients haven't lost anything, it's just that people willing to pay a premium gained.*

This - it's a broken system from the top down really. I guess the british people get what they vote for really. Is this what people want. It makes me sad

Allocating appointments on basis of wealth, seems inequitable and discriminatory

I say again, welcome to a capitalist society under a Conservative government. Everything is "allocated on the basis of wealth" because that's what the majority of people in the UK voted for.