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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Is my dentist practice being U?

26 replies

EricNorthmansmistress · 27/04/2010 22:17

To ALL Patients -
Please do blardy blah

To NHS Patients -
please ensure you understand the pricing structure and ask if not
please keep all appointments or be struck off list
Please do not wear clothes with oil or paint on
Please be patient, this is not macdonalds and we provide quality not quantity - there may be delays in appoitntments

AIBU to think this is patronising drivel and a bleedin liberty?

OP posts:

Kevlarhead · 27/04/2010 22:20

WTF? YANBU...

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 27/04/2010 22:23

My dentist has one similar, it also tells us to make sure we smell nice (I'm not an NHS patient by the way)

jasper · 27/04/2010 22:24

I m a dentist who provided all treatment under the NHS.

What a totally bizarre sign.

I think there is a chance that the dentist(s) do not know about this , but that other staff members have taken it upon themselves to put up such a sign!

Over the years I have known staff members to out up some dodgy signs without running it past the dentists. Never anything on this scale, however

I would ask your dentist about the sign.

Original poster

EricNorthmansmistress · 27/04/2010 22:24

Oh yes it does remind us to brush our teeth too! But paying customers don't need to be reminded of that!

OP posts:

Original poster

EricNorthmansmistress · 27/04/2010 22:26

Really? I might. I was pretty shocked when I read it, nearly laughed out loud at the absurdity. Especially the bit about dirty clothes and it not being macdonalds!

OP posts:

honeydragon · 27/04/2010 22:59

uanbu

Why would anyone want to pay to go there if they treat people this way?????

Tiredmumno1 · 27/04/2010 23:02

Terrible service, find a different just on the principal of the matter

Tiredmumno1 · 27/04/2010 23:04

I meant find a different dentist. sorry its late you know.

JustAnotherManicMummy · 27/04/2010 23:09

Because all NHS patients are soap-doging scum aren't they

I'm be asking the person behind the desk who was responsible for the sign and then take them apart (verbally) limb by limb.

jasper · 27/04/2010 23:46

PLEASE ask your dentist if he/she knows about this sign!

somebodysfool · 28/04/2010 11:39

I use NHS dentists as I always have and have been fairly satisfied with the care although they are now as rare as hens teeth (excuse the pun). I would be livid if that was in my dentist and I would ask them to remove it. If they didn't I would put a complaint in writing copying in my local newspaper for good measure. Its very insulting and is blatant discrimination and it would make me feel like a second class citizen which is obviously the point.

I was also appalled recently when I tried to book a family appointment in Feb and was told an appointment was not available until mid April due to NHS funding running out for that financial year. Luckily it was just the 6 monthly one but what if one of us had needed urgent treatment I suppose we would have had to pay private rates.

GibbonInARibbon · 28/04/2010 11:42

What an odd sign

Time to change practice I think.

DaftApeth · 28/04/2010 11:51

Do they have designated ares for NHS and non-NHS patients i.e. scruffy, paint covered chairs on one side and posh leather armchairs on the other?

I'd definitely take it up with the dentists and point out how offensive and inappropriate the sign is.

differentnameforthis · 28/04/2010 11:58

Totally bizarre! Of all the practices I have worked in, none of them would EVER consider it good manners/customer relations to put up such a condescending sign!

Agree with jasper, check with your dentist/practice manager...am astounded at this!

Aussieng · 28/04/2010 12:04

Outrageous! Yanbu.

I like the idea of taking the person behind the desk apart but all dentist and doctors now have those signs about staff will not tolerate abuse and they don't mean abuse they actually mean reasonable complaints...it's code for "our service and attitude can be as cr*p as we like"

Mouseface · 28/04/2010 12:09

'Please be patient, this is not macdonalds and we provide quality not quantity - there may be delays in appoitntments'

So none NHS patients don't eat fast food? No?

How very odd, and rude.

I'd take my business elsewhere after going in with a MacDonalds in hand and complaining!!!!

somebodysfool · 28/04/2010 13:13

Actually why don't you name and shame and we can phone them up to either complain or enquire if NHS patients have a separate waiting room so they don't need to offend us with their presence.

sanielle · 28/04/2010 13:15

Report them to the NHS, or take a pic and write your local newspaper. That is patronising rubbish. You are a bunch of oily working class so and sos..

Original poster

EricNorthmansmistress · 28/04/2010 13:48

Thanks all! It is mad isn't it? I'm going to ask about it next time i go in. Perhaps they have had lots of abuse from NHS patients for having to wait..I don't know. The oily/dirty clothes thing is just so weird. Do they assume all NHS patients are builders or something? Very odd.

It's toothsmart in hove, btw!

OP posts:

JustAnotherManicMummy · 28/04/2010 15:59

And here's their website.

This bit: Tooth Smart welcomes all patients that are serious or want to be serious about their oral health care. We only ask our patients to visit the surgery regurarly, invest in a good electric tooth brush, flossing twice a day and committing to seeing the hygienist 3 -4 times a year. Good oral health is not only up to the dental team, but the individual. We welcome patients that want to committ to good oral hygiene!

is just bizarre... They are dental nazis!

differentnameforthis · 28/04/2010 23:58

JAMM

"This bit: Tooth Smart welcomes all patients that are serious or want to be serious about their oral health care. We only ask our patients to visit the surgery regurarly, invest in a good electric tooth brush, flossing twice a day and committing to seeing the hygienist 3 -4 times a year. Good oral health is not only up to the dental team, but the individual. We welcome patients that want to committ to good oral hygiene!"

That doesn't make then dental nazis! That's just some sound advice, covering what most (all?) dentists want/need their pt's to do!

Time & time again I have seen teeth being fixed, gum disease being cured, only to see the pt 6 months (often more) later & they have MORE holes, more decay, more gum disease. So I think that they are right in telling pts that they need to look after their own teeth too.

But as I said, the sign they have put up is ridiculous!

jasper · 29/04/2010 00:24

well said differentname.
I thought it was a good website.

Terrible sign though. I am dying to know whether OP asked the dentist about it

JustAnotherManicMummy · 29/04/2010 01:08

ROFL. I just thought they sounded so up themselves. What if someone wants to use a manual toothbrush?!

I think there's a difference between recommending a course of action and insisting upon it. And that is very insistant. And I can see how easy it would be to go from that website to the content of the sign. It's the tone I think.

I thought the website quite pretentious. Yes, oral health is important... but if you're really, really honest do you or anyone you know do all that every single day?

MadamDeathstare · 29/04/2010 01:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

EricNorthmansmistress · 29/04/2010 07:13

I'm going back next week, I will ask the dentist!

OP posts:

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