To be raging my dentist will only see private patients for routine checkup

[VeniceQueen2004]

My daughter is overdue for her checkup. My dentist is now making routine appts for private patients but not NHS. I asked if I could pay private for her as a one off, and they told me that if I do that Ilwe'll come permanently off their NHS list and go onto their private plan (they would never accept me back as an NHS patient).

I ranted a bit on local FB group and it turns out this is common practice!

Is it just me who thinks this is shameless profiteering?

It's disgraceful really op. Me and my dc haven't had a check up since October last year and we've been given appointments for June next year. It just isn't good enough. I've been wondering if it'd be worth changing dentists in the hope they haven't all adopted the same policy.

It’s not the dental surgery making this choice, they’ve been told by the NHS they can’t do child check ups at my dentist.

There doesn't seem to be any consistency around the country, does there? I had dental work done in June, have a check up next week (nhs) and am also seeing my hygienist next week, who is private, so no problem here.
It is shocking if they are not seeing children. Another health crisis in the making.

My dentist was frustrated she could not do the same work on the NHS as privately, she did my check up at the same time as she took a wisdom tooth out.

Do you know if dentists/ hygienists are doing scale and polishes privately or is it still too risky?

My dental practice is doing this too. DM and I are registered as NHS patients but when we moved up here my dad had to join as a private patient so he's managed to have his check up I'm a bit annoyed because I always make sure I get 2 check ups a year and there's no word here in Scotland about when NHS patients can be seen

We had our NHS checkups a few weeks ago - our dentist messaged us to let us know they were resuming routine NHS checkups on August 17th. It definitely isn't all of them.

I had a row with my dentist yesterday about this- my two children last saw dentist Sept 2019, postponed twice and now appointment made for April NEXT year.

I went bonkers- phoned today and have an appointment next week.

Same for me last seen August last year postponed to Feb next year

Strange thing is of I was private I could get in

Kick up a fuss
Name and shame on facebook
Speak to practice manager

It is disgusting 🔥

Our dentist explained it. The NHS (in Wales) has said they will only pay for emergency, urgent and ongoing treatment. Not routine work. Private patients are done on a different list and who gets seen is up to the dentist.

Basically, the NHS will not pay for routine check-ups at the moment. Which is why they are not being offered.

@dingledongle tbh, if you had been a patient in my practice and you tried any of that on, I'd remove you from the list due to a breakdown in dentist patient relationship. That sort of behaviour is not on.

I hear from friends that 111 won't stop diverting patients to them and even though they HAVE NO NHS CONTRACT, patients are demanding to be seen and leaving receptionists in tears because of the way they are being spoken to. Totally unacceptable.

What happens if you do get you kids check ups and they need fillings, are you going to be prepared to pay privately for them?

@Mrsmorton there is indeed a breakdown of trust. I would like to be able to trust my dentist to care for my children’s teeth.

Very disappointing to see private work prioritised and I will be moving as a result.

@Onceuponatimethen have you actually read anyone's posts where they explain the issues with NHS treatment? I know the answer is no but good luck

Did you read mine? The one where I explained that I don’t want to be at a practice where I can’t get an nhs checkup (even though there are some adult nhs check ups available) but if I’m happy to pay I can get one.

But MrsMorton it is obviously not true across the board as other practices are taking routine NHS appts, so it isn't as simple as saying the NHS won't pay for routine work right now. And it can't be a capacity/safety issue if by stumping up an annual subscription it suddenly becomes feasible. So it is all about the money.

Even if it were the case that they can see private but not NHS patients for routine work for whatever reason, why not let me pay for a one off appt? Why boot me and my child off the NHS list for good?

As a point of interest is there any such thing as a pure NHS dental practice any more? And if so how do you identify them? I'd much rather be seen at such a practice to avoid being treated like this again... But they all seem to be competing privates with a bit of NHS on the side as an increasingly optional extra ...

@MilkLady02

If it's all on the individual and no-one should ever need to see the dentist why did I receive a mass of literature when my baby was small emphasising how essential it was for her to see a dentist for regular checkups? Have I just been wasting my time hitherto?

Basically right now I'm in a position where I can't get my daughter's teeth looked at, but if I was richer I could. Do we really think that is acceptable?

My understanding is that the GMC had said that adult and child nhs checkups can go ahead (certainly in England) unless I’ve misunderstood their rules. Individual practices can decide what they want to do.

@VeniceQueen2004 it isn’t ok at all - I’m really sorry. Poor you and poor dd. Have you tried other local nhs practices? I’m sorry if you’ve already answered this and I missed it

Fuck knows why the GMC are wading in on the issues of dentistry.

All practices are private businesses who subcontract some of their time to the NHS. NHS contracts are increasingly hard to find, some practices want them but can't get them, they almost never fill 100% of the week for all dentists in the practice. The only 100% NHS practices are community practices for special care dentistry, children who can't be treated in routine practice, adults with additional needs etc.

It's not allowed to mix NHS and private treatment so you can't have a private check up and NHS treatment or vice versa. Dentists can have large parts of their contract value "clawed back" if they don't adhere rigidly to NHS contract rules. There is no negotiation.

"Registration" is another act of smoke and mirrors that this contract imposed. You are only registered for a course of treatment. Usually about 3 months. After that... not registered anymore. That means more people have access to a dentist...

It's not as simple as this forum likes to make out a lot of the time.

And just because it's a drum I like to bang... almost all dental disease is preventable. Like @MilkLady02 said, dentists only find the issues, we put them there.

I don’t agree with the practice telling you that you can’t dip in and out of private/NHS I do it all the time

I do understand the pressures and issues the practice gets with the NHS restrictions. Poor dental health has been linked to many other illnesses so I don’t understand why it isn’t properly funded

www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/health-risks-of-gum-disease/

@Onceuponatimethen

I've called around a few who I was told we're seeing routine check ups (good old local FB). None of them are taking new NHS patients right now (which I totally understand as I'm sure there are challenged providing adequate services to the ones they have!).

So my options really are go private or go without. I feel like I'm letting my daughter down not going private, but long term we can't afford it.

@VeniceQueen2004 sad to say, it's important to get children accustomed to seeing the dentist because there is so much dental disease in children in this country.

This from RCSEng

Tooth decay remains the leading reason for hospitals admissions among 5 to 9 year olds, according to data published by NHS Digital today. The number of admissions for tooth decay was more than double those for acute tonsillitis, which is the second highest cause of hospital admissions for 5 to 9 year olds.

Tells you why.

People generally don't listen to preventive advice, they simply don't, it's abundantly clear even on MN that a huge number of people simply think it can't be their fault. Only in very few occasions is decay not preventable by normal means of control (diet and cleaning). Getting your child used to visiting the dentist means that if they do need treatment, they are more likely to accept it rather than need hospital treatment.

@Mrsmorton

So it is important! This is the point. I'm failing my daughter by not getting her seen, but the only way I can get her seen is to commit long term to spending money we don't have on the private plan.