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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give a false address to our dentist?

28 replies

Upwind · 24/04/2008 16:17

Well not so much give a false address, as fail to update our address. We moved in January, I have called about 10 dental surgeries in the area and none are taking on new patients.

Our old dentist is not very far away, but almost certainly in a different catchment. He seems to be excellent at his work and has a big sign outside welcoming new NHS patients.

I am worried if I update our address I will be told I need to find someone closer. And if I don't we will somehow be defrauding the NHS

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 24/04/2008 16:26

I don't think dentists have catchment areas in the same way GPs do, so you'd probably be OK. You could always ask all innocently "if I was to move away, would I have to change?", then tell them the new address a few weeks later...

WigWamBam · 24/04/2008 16:27

I used to live 20 miles away from my dentist. He was still happy to treat me as an NHS patient.

I don't think dentists have "catchments" as such - why don't you ring them (without giving your name) and ask what their policy is?

You need to update your address so that they can send you reminders and such like - if you don't, the chances are that the people who now live at your old address will send the mail back anyway so the surgery will know you don't live there anymore.

nametaken · 24/04/2008 17:17

YANBU - can't see how it's defrauding anyone - the NHS pays for your dental treatment and if you have it in a different area I can't see what difference it would make.

pointydog · 24/04/2008 17:22

yeah, dentists don't have catchement areas. Just tell them where you live.

ellideb · 24/04/2008 17:37

It doesn't matter where you live, private or not when deciding where your dentist will be. What with all the difficulties findng an NHS dentist, or any dentist for that matter these days, keep hold of him! I know of patients who travel 100's of miles to see my dentist. One patient even comes all the way from the other side of the world to see him. Not a reflection on the standard of his work btw, just how desperate these people are and how much in short supply dentists are!

saffy202 · 24/04/2008 17:39

I live in a different 'catchment' to my dentist because it was easier to get to when I was working f/t. Nowadays it is a pita to get to but I know I am lucky to have a dentist so stay there.

It is a different NHS primary trust but no-one has ever commented on it.

jasper · 24/04/2008 17:39

I am an NHS dentist.
In our practice we see people from all over the country and even some who travel back from their homes abroad. We don't have such a thing as a catchment area and nor do any friends I know who have dental practices.

I always say we are more like Hairdressers than any other profession - once you find one you like you will stick with him/ her.

I think it's on the Better the devil you know principle!

Chequers · 24/04/2008 18:11

Message withdrawn

cece · 24/04/2008 18:14

We kept our dentist when we moved out of London. We now visit London twice a year for our check up and to visit friends....

FAQ · 24/04/2008 18:18

we don't even have "catchments" for the Dr.s round here, before we moved house I had to go past 3 other Doctors surgeries to get to the one I was allocated......

Anyone new moving here (or at least when we moved here 6yrs ago) had to send a form off to the PCT who then "allocated" the doctors to you.

Stupid thing was I met someone who lived on the opposite side of town (right near the doctors we were given) and who had moved there the same time we moved.

She had been allocated the doctors surgery just round the corner from us

Original poster
Upwind · 24/04/2008 18:23

Thanks all! Looks like we don't have a problem so, now I have no excuse to put off going.

My old GP told me she would not consider seeing me once I let slip that I had moved. I then had a long argument with the people at the practise around the corner from our new home that, given we are less than a five minute walk from them, we must be in their catchment. They kept trying to insist we should go miles away but let us register in the end. Bizarre way to run a system.

OP posts:
UpsyDaisyDo · 24/04/2008 20:30

I live about a 40 minute drive from my dentist and it wasn't a problem when I registered with him (he moved from a practice close to where I live and I trust him and no he'd never rip me off so wanted to move to where he now works.) I was even able to contact the old practice which was under new management and pick up a copy of my records to pass onto him at my first appointment. I'm fortunate enough to live in an area where dentists are still taking on new NHS patients but wouldn't change for love nor money!!! I think the system with doctors is more focussed on "catchment areas" in case your not well enough to get to the surgery and need to have a GP visit you at home.

orangehead · 24/04/2008 20:33

dentists dont have catchment areas we have patients that live different countries. However if they dont have your right address you wont get letters informing you of any change of appointments

milliec · 24/04/2008 20:44

Message withdrawn

virgocap71 · 01/09/2021 16:15

I’m on benifits trying to register with an nhs dentist Do they phone or email the job center to check what benefits you are getting

WorraLiberty · 01/09/2021 16:21

@virgocap71

I’m on benifits trying to register with an nhs dentist Do they phone or email the job center to check what benefits you are getting
Gosh, this thread is 13 years old! Grin

As far as I'm aware, you just have to show whatever proof the dentist asks for.

PheasantsNest · 01/09/2021 16:23

@virgocap71 It's better to start your own thread rather than add onto one that is 13 years old!

You have to fill in a declaration form showing what benefits you are on
These are then checked against the records.

HeronLanyon · 01/09/2021 16:24

Bloody hell 2008 ! Not just pre pandemic but almost in black and white !
Hope op resolved the dilemma. She may be sitting out the final days of her prison sentence for ‘catchment fraud’, mind you.

youdoyoutoday · 01/09/2021 16:42

Dentists don't have catchment areas like doctors so I think you'll be fine

2bazookas · 01/09/2021 16:47

We had a lovely NHS dentist for 8 years; when we moved 30 miles away (different county) we kept him; and 20 years later we moved again even further away and still kept him. He was worth travelling to. 8 years later he and his partner both decided to retire and that was the end of a lovely relationship. (The new partners were rubbish so we left)

He didn't mind us moving twice at all.

LittleGwyneth · 01/09/2021 17:52

I'd say nothing. I had to move from my beloved GP where I felt super safe, to a new one which is not brilliant, and have resolved that I will do the naughty thing and keep schtum in future to avoid similar situations.

Heatherjayne1972 · 01/09/2021 18:26

Dentists don’t have catchment areas

Some of our patients travel for hours to see us Just tell them your new address. It’s fine

Gatehouse77 · 01/09/2021 19:34

@cece

We kept our dentist when we moved out of London. We now visit London twice a year for our check up and to visit friends....
Same here
Redglitter · 01/09/2021 19:37

Chances are since the thread is THIRTEEN YEARS OLD the OP probably got things resolved

ikesina · 26/11/2024 00:15

Did not let dentist know that I’ve changed the address,don’t know why, probably was just afraid that they will tell me to find another one in my area. Is it somehow affecting claims that they do? Don’t they use NHS number to make a claim

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