Shall I complain about the receptionist at the dentist ?

[Lolared]

I had a bad experience with the dentist receptionist about 2 weeks ago , I was going to complain and looked into doing it properly through a company who deals with NHS practice complaints. the person I spoke to said I was totally in the right and to 100% go through with a complaint .

I cooled down and reevaluated the situation and this is a dentist I want to attend long term so thought best to let it go for everyone’s sake to save future awkwardness.

I went back yesterday for an appointment with my son, it was hard to act completely like nothing had happened but I was polite and smiled and it felt ok. After the appointment when I was booking another , he added he’s reflected on the previous conversation ( which I was thinking wow he’s going to apologise) and then adds more to the argument we had basically saying he’s gone off and thought of 1 more thing to chuck into it , then saying we will draw a line under it though , leaving me speechless, as I had already drew a line under it silently trying to be the bigger person .
I then left feeling like no I don’t want to draw a line under it even though I agreed with him and left politely. I’m furious. How dare he ? Why keep it going ? Why hold on to that for 2 weeks and wait for me to come back and have to still try and belittle me.

The conversation with the complaint people I spoke to in the beginning said if I was to go ahead I would need the managers details so after coming home I began finding the managers details (without calling the dental practice to not make the receptionist aware )

It turns out the receptionist is the manager/ owner! He’s photo came up when I was searching , he and he’s wife both own the practice she does dental work and he used to specialise in banking for 15 years so I assume has taken the role as receptionist.

Now I don’t know what to do , I don’t want him to think he can say some sly comment every time I go and I have to be the bigger person and take it on the chin and ignore it. It feels so unprofessional and I honestly just want to go to my appointments and go home.

Shall I just put up and shut up?

tia xx

Have you posted about this before? Is this the one where you had an argument with him about whether or not you had to pay for your hygienist appointment and then he had a pop at you for being late? If it is that story, he does sound like a dickhead, but given the extent of the problems you were having (apologies if this isn't you) I wouldn't risk being booted off their lists.

Don’t be ridiculous. Have you got any idea of what is involved financially and emotionally in trying to sue for medical negligence.

"No I said I was imagining. Iam not taking it literal.
the comment that the dentist could basically sabotage my teeth because I made a complaint , I highly highly doubt would happen .
to go to university and study and get your own dental practice I’m sure wouldn’t be worth throwing for .
the comment was something imaginary to me so I imagined back."

Oh that wasn't clear to me, it sounded like you thought it was a possibility. You do seem to be a bit of an over-thinker, I remember your previous thread.

I work in an NHS dentist. The amount of times I get shouted at by patients a week is ridiculous and sad.

Really depends - was what they said threatening? Derogatory towards a protected characteristic? Blatantly broke patient confidentiality? Or just rude or disagreeing with you?

Assuming it’s the latter I think unfortunately you need to put up with it if you want to continue at this practice.

I would also steer clear of companies specialising in NHS complaints - they’re hardly going to tell you not to complain are they?!

Yes the person I spoke to about complaining said they can’t discriminate or treat me unfairly if I have complained.
the person with the issue isn’t myself it’s the receptionist, I hate that I feel I have to complain in the first place 😪

Or somewhere close to the England Wales border?

They’re not supposed to discriminate but I’m pretty sure they would find a way of doing this and not seeing you again. You’re in a very difficult position and while I feel a complaint would be justified I’m not sure it’s worth it unless you can find another dentist. X

I’m so sorry to hear that .
I'm so polite and even after the argument/disagreement I went back smiling and polite .
I know receptions don’t get it easy sometimes especially in dentistry.
❤️

If you're the same person who posted before then all he did was be quite firm about making you pay for treatment you'd already had before you left the surgery. Your issue was essentially that you were unaware of the cost and didn't like the way he spoke to you. So no I wouldn't complain about that.
If you are not that person then apologies.

I bet you aren’t rude back though. Or be rude every time they come back almost picking fights!
I bet you just seethe on the inside like I do (remaining as polite and helpful as ever) x

Thank you , no I said imagine at the start.

yes I do over think but even after all my other thinking last time I shrugged it off only to go back and act like nothing had happened for him to feel he HAD to say something . It’s so frustrating to be the bigger person that’s all

Can you elaborate about what your bad experience was OP? It’s difficult to judge whether you should pursue the complaint without knowing what happened.

lol I’m sure he would know it’s me

What was the 'bad experience' with the receptionist OP?

She most likely wouldn't due to professional indemnity unless you can demonstrate gross misconduct / criminal intent

Genuine question, what would a complaint achieve with him being the owner?

It’s so much to go into . The advice given by people already has been sufficient without knowing the actual context.
thank you though

That’s exactly my thought now , I’m literally going to achieve nothing unless I did the complaint to he’s wife but yeah that wouldn’t get me anywhere either I doubt just taken off their books 😪

I’d put money on you being the unreasonable one OP

From what I remember the OP thought something should have been done for free (I think hygienist cleaning) under free NHS treatment due to getting certain benefits but it wasn't and she was upset. The receptionist/owner wasn't very sympathetic and presented her with an unexpected bill and blamed her for not knowing.

Sadly it would probably result in her being removed from their list. It shouldn’t but probably would.

Sorry no that’s not what it is about

I think I’d just let it go in that case. You don’t want to add to the nerves every visit. Maybe you’ll get lucky and another practise will have some room soon.