Dentist wants 95 pounds to register child as an NHS patient

[surreyisik]

Hi all,
Just wanted to get some views here. High street dentist wants us to register as a patient first to take DS as an NHS patient. It's fine until this point, but they say they can only do this if we register as a private patient ourselves (£95) and get checked regularly with at least something basic such as teeth cleaning (£75)
Do you think this is acceptable? Why do we have to pay to make sure our son can become an NHS patient and not pay?? It feels unfair, especially for families who can't afford it.

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That is not true. There are very few NHS dentists. There may be nowhere she can travel to that will accept her and her kids for nhs treatment.

Yes she should write to he MP.

But why people expect dentists to work for free or out of their pockets mystified me.

Dentists deserve to be paid for what they do. If the NHS wont pay them then they will go private. I'm sure if the NHS paid them properly there would be a lot more NHS places available, it I'm not sure why dentists should be blamed for this. They have bill's to pay just like anyone else, if their work isnt paying their Bill's of course they will make changes.

And yes, if the same happens to GP's then that will be next. Theres already an exodus.

No wonder dental health in children is declining. Those who care about their kids teeth may not be able to afford it. And those who didn't really care won't bother with the hassle.

It was hard to get some families to seek dental care even when it was simpler and completely free.

Our dentist accepted my children alone as NHS patients, because they weren't accepting adult NHS at the time and I didn't want to go private. No charges for anything.

I cannot believe so many people are excusing this. if they are willing to take on your child as an NHS patient they do have provision. its basically extorting desperate parents and should absolutely be reported.

I have honestly never heard of this shit in my life.

Do no adults have an NHS dentist on here?

How frequent check ups should be should be dependent on each individual. Some people 6 months, others once a year. I've worked in fully private practices (in very expensive areas) with good dentists who tailor the treatment to the individual. Every 6 months is the starting block, but it isn't and shouldn't stay like that for everyone.

the same thing happened to me recently and i called and queried the cost and the receptionist said that apparently hygienists aren't covered by NHS dentistry so its automatically a private appointment. which of course no-one said at the time.

I think you either take this offer or have no NHS dentist for your child.
Many dentists have stopped doing NHS work as the payment for this is very poor.
There is absolutely no point in complaining, as it's a well known issue.
You either take it or leave it.
Both medical & dental care is becoming increasingly privatised.

But what are dentists supposed to do if the NHS doesn’t pay them enough for the « free » kids appointments? They need to be viable.
(genuine question)

Because if you register and never go what’s the point of registering?

They do it because they make a loss on paediatric patients so your fees offset the cost. If they don’t they just limit further the number of children nhs patients they will take on.

Precisely this

You need to be very ignorant of the current climate to blame dentists.

Sure, all kids should have NHS dentists. But if there are no NHS dentists-because that’s not viable anymore for dentists- then there are no NHS dentists. No matter how indignant you are about that.

It's up to them what they do.

They are obviously a private provider. Their main business is therefore private patients. They don't have to take on anyone they don't want to - including people who register but then don't ever go.

To do people a favour they agree to see children on an NHS basis. It's quite common.

I don't know about everyone else on mn. I've always had a private dentist. Now my kids are adults they are also private. I pay for health insurance that covers dental and optical.

I was under the impression that me paying NI meant i would have access to an NHS dentist? Is that not the case? Im still under NHS atm and so are my kids. Its all going private in my area. Who can afford £50 check ups? Crazy. There will be a epidemic of bad teeth at this rate as people just cannot afford to see the dentist

Dentists dont keep a record of who has or hasnt paid NI.

The provision is the same for everyone regardless of whether they have paid NI or not.

So if you do lose your dentist for whatever reason you may have the same problems getting another as others on this thread.

No that's not the case.

Those of you getting steamed up about this need to raise your concerns with your MP especially if they are conservative.

NHS dentistry is on it's knees. It is having a huge impact on the wellbeing of children. But dentists aren't charities and can't keep providing care for free.

If we aren't careful GPs will go the same way. I often read threads on here and think that those who are most supportive of NHS privatisation are those who stand to lose the most ....

DOI: NHS consultant who works closely aligned with adult and paediatric hospital dental services. I have a private dentist as my colleagues told me NHS dentistry isn't viable now and I would be unlikely to get a good one locally.

No, it's not the case.

And I'm amazed you don't know that there is already an epidemic of bad teeth.

The only NHS children my dentist takes on now are ones of Private patients.
They are independent businesses so can decide their own policies to a certain extent I suppose
Its awful how so many people can’t access cheap or free dental care but like most businesses dentists want profitable clients, they aren’t charities

This is a terrible comparison.

Eating out is optional.

Basic healthcare (including dentistry) isn't.

This kind of thing is common practice but that doesn't make it any better. I think everyone should have access to NHS dentistry but at a bare minimum children should, irrespective of their parents' status as patients or not patients, NHS or private. The wider medical problems this country is storing up as a result of not looking after the nation's children's oral health is appalling and very stupid. All of this is a political problem but it isn't helped by the grabby culture in dentistry which at the very least borders on sharp practice and in many, many practices far exceeds it in my experience. I came on to the thread to warn you that there'd be dentists along soon to bleat about how hard they have it but I see I'm too late. YANBU, OP.

Again in private practice professionals can decide on their own working conditions.

If you dont like it, lobby your MP

I dont see people complaining about big businesses charging for their products???

I have to pay for my child (under 5) as a private patient. Nowhere will see her as Nhs. The check ups are under £20, I know not everyone can do it but I find it really reasonable. Just such a shame this is the situation we’re all left in

The reality is, though, if they cracked down on this what dentists would do is stop offering any NHS treatment at all. They don't have any obligation to work for the NHS. They're relying on private fees to subsidise their NHS work.

Complain to your MP - but it will only have any benefit if they start funding NHS dentistry. You can't fix the problem on the backs of dentists.

This literally makes no sense

Do you bleat about John Lewis not furnishing children’s bedrooms for free, or Tesco not feeding hungry kids for free?

Thought not