Missed dental appointment

[anxiousatnight]

Posting for traffic - not an AIBU

I failed to attend my children's dental appointments this afternoon. No excuse, I was out and completely forgot. I feel terrible because I know how many people are desperately trying to access NHS dental treatment.

This is our first 'no show' offence. Is it likely we'll be deregistered or do you think we'll get away with it this time?

My husband died on the day before my appointment was due, obviously I missed the appointment, as it went out of my head. They still deregistered me

It happens. A genuine apology would be much appreciated. I work to two no shows and you're deregistered for adults. I don't deregister children as its not there fault they haven't been brought (this is inline with the 'was not brought' guidance). I do however limit prime time appointments for those that can't be relied upon to turn up or see them on a sit and wait only basis. Within the NHS we cannot charge you for missing appointments.

@Brexiteermorons sorry to hear that, that seems extremely harsh.

@Starlightdarkness thank you for that. I will absolutely call tomorrow morning and apologise. Unfortunately I realised just after the surgery closed so I couldn't apologise this evening. Hopefully they will follow your rule of two missed appointments, which seems fair. Out of interest, is that two consecutive missed appointments, or two missed appointments at whatever time?

Ours is one missed appointment and you're booted.

Ours is one missed and your gone. It's fare enough, they are losing money and there are plenty of other patients on the waiting list, 5 years worth in my area alone

Two in quick sucession. So I wouldn't deregister you for missing today and once in 2004 or something but would if you missed today and January for example. Nobodys perfect, we all mess up sometimes.

@Starlightdarkness thank you for trying to put me at ease.

Ours is instant deregister!

Long waiting lists of people who so badly want and need an NHS dentist. The nearest dentist taking NHS patients is about 40 miles away!

They used to just charge for missed appointments but when that was banned they deregister you instead.

Ours won't deregister for a first offence. I stupidly missed one for me last year and was able to just rebook.

Many places it's de register after two missed appointments at any time. At our practice after one missed appointment you would not get a late night appointment and many places will put you on a sit and wait basis . Also with families , because it is a larger chunk of time that has been wasted you may find they will only offer single appointments , not book children in together.
Bear in mind with the extreme pressure on NHS dental resources you may not get a replacement appointment for months .

I now have my dentist under DO NOT IGNORE in my phone as I'm paranoid about missing an appointment!

Unfortunately the new contract of 2006 took away dentists ability to charge for missed appointments was taken away and so missed appointments shot up.
In one study 40% of new patient appointments were missed. The dentist cannot claim for missed appointments and if they miss their treatment targets then they have to pay back money to the government. 86% of practices will be repaying money back !
Interestingly it is males 18 to 30 who do not pay for dental treatment who are most likely to miss an appointment.

I actually turned up a month late! No idea what I was thinking! Dentist was fine about it. Mistakes happen surely.

They let me rebook - phew!

Def won't forget next time!

Couldnt forget ours. You get a text, a phone call and another text when an appointment is coming up

My dentist usually cancels appointments before you have a chance to miss them - the past four for DH, DSD and I have been cancelled 😳 but yes, instant deregistration here if you miss one

The huge difference here is the dentist contacts you to let you know of a cancellation. If the customer did the same instead of just not turning up it would be very different

Mine do now too.

I turned up once to find that my appointment had been cancelled by them and they’d forgotten to notify me!

You can complain to the practice manager. This is actually disgusting.

Though tbh you might not want to continue with a practice so lacking in compassion

I've been In reception defray times when people have missed their child's appointments. They give them one more chance then threaten the parents with a social care referral. I think that is completely OTT and social care won't care. Unless part of a bigger picture.
I was absolutely disgusted when a girl of about 15 came in with her elder sister. They'd missed the appointment because their mum had died and the receptionist gave them the same response. Not one ounce of sympathy. I really had to bite my tongue not to complain about that attitude.