To tell you that NHS dentist charges are rising..?

[Mrsmorton]

So please write to your MP and ask them why they think this is a good idea.

Our dentist has been open for routine check ups since 4 July. In Sept they even started filling up the waiting rooms which was really uncomfortable so my kids and I stood in the corridor

@notheragain41 yep. Restrictions imposed because of the NHS contract. Private appointments are not subject to the same restrictions. Bizarre but imposed centrally.

Happy to pay 5% extra...would like to be able to get appointments though. Even pre covid it takes a few months to get one

Why don't we make a contribution to other types of healthcare? Why don't I pay to see my GP? Why don't I have to pay part of my surgery or smear test?

You pay for eye tests and glasses (or most people do).

What's wrong with it? I can't even get into an NHS dentist and so have to go privately which is very expensive. Its a very small increase and money has to come from somewhere.

@Shoppingwithmother ah that's ok then.

Well, it just answered your question: we do make a contribution to other types of healthcare, and this is an appropriate comparison.

Why don't we make a contribution to other types of healthcare? Why don't I pay to see my GP? Why don't I have to pay part of my surgery or smear test?

You are more than welcome to come live over here in Ireland and pay for all of that 🤣🤣

I couldn't give a shit what I pay to see a NHS dentist. I just want to be seen. Or surgery are shut until January. Allegedly they are seeing some emergencies, but I know no one who's managed to get an appointment. Weird, because their private patients are being seen for routine treatment in the same practice by the same clinicians....

It's a great way to force us all to go private. Now THAT is privatisation by stealth.

@Mrsmorton thank you, I didn't realise that was the case, extremely frustrating and unfair. Although I'm also very annoyed our dental practice hasn't made any contact with us except to cancel our May appointments, no communication to explain a) why we can't be seen b) to reassure us we will remain on the books c) even just a holding communication to say no change in current circumstances hope to book people in again d) if and how emergency appointments can be made

No idea what's going on whatsoever.

I've been needing to see my dentist for about two years, but the money has been needed more urgently elsewhere and then COVID meant that they were closed anyway. Finances are better now; in all honesty, I've managed for so long and, if the £62 I would have paid before is now £65, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

However, I would love to know the rationale behind making almost all healthcare needs available free at the point of use on the NHS but randomly deciding that eyes and teeth have to be self-funded. Why those two essential aspects and not others?

NHS dentist totally fuck-up my daughters teeth. Cost me a small fortune to have it all corrected. The reason he gave was the care he provided was totally in line with NHS guidelines , meaning he only provides basic dental care. If he had advised me she needed additional treatment not covered by the NHS I’d have done it. Happy to pay for private treatment. I don’t want “ good enough” I want American teeth. I worked there so I know the difference.

Thanks for the tip off Mrs M

Completely agree

Only my kids can get a place with a decent NHS dentist anyway, and their treatment is free.

It's only 5% 🤷‍♀️ how else do you think we are all going to pay for the massive covid bill coming our way???

Dentist treatment in the UK is already prohibitively expensive for many. People are loving with daily pain and discomfort and letting their teethe get into an unsalvageable state because they can't afford to seek treatment (if they're lucky enough to be seen in the first place). I had an abscess and tried to get an emergency appointment and was given one 17 days ahead. It's not hood enough. These rises might mean that even fewer people seek necessary dental treatment than before. It's not a given that all people visit the dentist anyway, it's actually somewhat of a luxury at the moment. I think it's disgraceful it's come to this. If they really tried hard enough they could recoup the costs in other ways. Eg, not giving MPs such frequent and large payrises. Chasing tax dodging millionaires, asking for contributions to non-essential NHS procedures, clamping down on time and resource wasters within the NHS. Making dentistry even more unaffordable for many is not fair.

It's only 5%

I cannot afford to pay the current rates. Not that it matters, my dentist has no appointments until April 2021 anyway.

Why don't we make a contribution to other types of healthcare? Why don't I pay to see my GP? Why don't I have to pay part of my surgery or smear test?

Because when the NHS was set up, dentists (along with pharmacists and opticians) opted out to an extent. That’s why they can charge.

Personally I’m fine with dentists charging more. I’d prefer services were paid for by those who use them. It puts more onus on the individual to look after themselves, and not just get fat with rotten teeth and health problems and expect the tax payer to fix it for them.

Of course, the hand-wringing lefties won’t like that, but personal responsibility has never been their forte.

Tbh you should feel bloody lucky you can get a place with an NHS dentist. They are rarer than hens teeth round here. How about campaigning to widen access?

@Porcupineinwaiting I'm a dentist so I don't struggle thanks. If you do then perhaps you could campaign?

@Mrsmorton I don't understand your point then. Surely you understand why the price is being increased? You must see the costs increase for your practice every year, no? Why resistance to a small increase in the NHS subsidised cost to the patient? It happens most years, why not now?

Are you aware that in Devon and Cornwall there's a 7 YEAR waiting list to join an NHS practice?

I'm far more concerned with seeing more NHS practices opened than a 5% increase in subsidised fees for treatment. If people can't afford this treatment, and I've been there, there aren't many options. I've had to be a guinea pig at the local University teaching practice purely because I couldn't be seen elsewhere for years and couldn't afford the private fees for my umpteen fractured teeth.

I couldn’t get an appointment as a private patient in an NHS surgery. Apparently, broken teeth and crowns are not urgent or an emergency. I had to go to a wholly private practice and spend a fortune. That’s my savings depleted, but what’s the alternative?

@Porcupineinwaiting

Tbh you should feel bloody lucky you can get a place with an NHS dentist. They are rarer than hens teeth round here. How about campaigning to widen access?

This.

What people here fail to recognise is that it's not a covid issue. NHS dentistry (or the lack of) has been an issue for the best part of 20 years. Under Conservative AND Labour governments.

[quote Mrsmorton]@notheragain41 yep. Restrictions imposed because of the NHS contract. Private appointments are not subject to the same restrictions. Bizarre but imposed centrally.[/quote]
That's certainly not the case at my private dentist. Covid restrictions mean patients have to comply with mask, sanitiser and social distancing in the waiting room (this limits the number of waiting patients )
The dentist and his assistant wore full PPE. (new set for every patient) I had lost two large old fillings with bits of surrounding tooth, requiring drilling, air/ water blasting, polishing etc; all aerosol treatments which contaminate the air (potential covid ) and meant that after my treatment, that room was sealed for 3 hours to protect the cleaners, then required deepclean, and therefore would not be usable again that day. Obviously that severely limits the number of rooms in use, the number of patients seen, and the number of staff working on patients.I paid just over 400 with xrays and fillings. I'd have paid around £70 for the same treatment on NHS. I had been waiting a year for NHS treatment (cancelled appointment last December, dentist ill. Cancelled again in March, lockdown, and he's still only seeing emergencies). Left any longer I might have lost both teeth; happy to pay a private dentist to rescue them.

    My lovely  NHS dentist  I've had for years  was excellent,in fact my private dentist  admired his  work,  but that's it for me.  I'm a convert to private dentistry, happy to pay  whatever it takes to get treated safely  when I need it.  I've now  taken out a dental plan at the private dentists  ( £35 a month). 
  
I'm worth it.  No  hairdresser and no meals out since first  lockdown.

@SoddingWeddings do you think the fee increase actually goes to the dentists? It doesn't, it just changes the ratio of the contract to be more patient funding and less NHS funding. The value doesn't change, overheads still increase.

There won't be more NHS practices opening because there is no such thing.

It's fascinating that so many of you are so happy to pay both via tax and directly at the point of care. Weird. But fascinating.