Question about dentures for elderly relative

[kid]

Does anyone have any advice on dentures.

My nan was in hospital recently for an operation on her leg. While there, the staff accidently threw away her dentures.
They admitted liability and said they would arrange for a replacement set.

However, they did nothing and we have been left to try and sort it out ourselves.

Managed to get a dentist appt for last week, but they have told her she will have to wait until February to get the new dentures as their technician is going on holiday.

Is it worth changing dentist or is this the normal length of time it takes for new dentures to be made?

Our other option is to go private and get them done that way. We are not sure if we would be able to claim off the hospital insurance as they did admit liability but I doubt they would confirm this now. Or, do we just pay for them ourselves?

She is 81 years old and is losing a lot of weight as she is unable to eat properly.
She has not been out of her house either since returning home from hospital which is not like her. She doesn't feel confident enough to go out without her teeth

Try a different dentist, or contact a lab directly, some labs will do all the impressions & make them, themselves. Leaving her until Feb is way too long! You can't not have teeth for almost 2 months!

She is losing a lot of weight due to not eating properly. She only weighs 7 1/2 stone, she can't afford to lose any more weight.

Thanks, I'll phone another dentist tomorrow and if they can't help me, I'll ring some others too. We are determined to get this sorted asap

Sounds like she can't afford to wait until Feb then! Although, in extreme circs you could try the nutritional drinks & thick soups.

Hope it gets sorted! Where abouts are you?

I can't give advice about new teeth, but an elderly friend of mine recently spent one night in a geriatric unit (couldn't believe how patronising they were towards him!) and they managed to throw away his teeth. Fortunately, he could afford to go private, but it seems throwing out teeth/mixing up the teeth of different residents/patients is not that unusual.

differentnameforthis we are in Hackney.

I spoke to the dentist today, they have quoted me £1,050 for private treatment and the teeth may be ready in 2 weeks (I have to phone back tomorrow to confirm). That dentist is not accepting any NHS patients at the moment but are happy to take over £1,000 off an 81 year old woman [sad &

It might be worth trying some more dentists, or maybe I should start chasing the hospital that lost the dentures to claim off their insurance?

Go to the ward and ask to speak to the sister in charge or matron, kick up a fuss and you will always get what you want. There is a orthodontist (sp?) department of my local hospital and if patients dentures are lost, they get refered straight away and are replaced there.

By the way, dentures are very easy to lose in hospital. Elderly and sometimes confused patients take them out and put them on the bed covers which are then changed without noticing by busy nursing staff or they are dropped on the floor and kicked out of site etc.

her teeth were on the bedside table wrapped in tissue. I knew what they were even without touching them. I am shocked that anyone managed to throw them away without noticing. No point in worrying about that now, whats done is done. We just have to try and get a replacement set ASAP.

Have you tried the hospital's Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)? They may be able to help fast-track the replacement dentures.

Could your nan's GP help at all? Either by chivvying the hospital or knowing another local NHS dentist who would be more helpful. The GP should be concerned about your nan's problems with eating and going out.

She had the emergency dr around again tonight, they are discussing her being admitted to hospital again.
She is on more antibiotics and they will make a decision in the next couple of days.

I phoned the PALS tonight, they closed at 5 but it went straight to voicemail at 4:50. I emailed them explaining the situation and will hopefully hear from them soon.

I have to phone the dentist to get a full quote and time scale for a private patient.
Funny how their website states they are accepting NHS patiens, but on the phone he said no.
Its all about money, that shouldn't surprise me but it really does annoy me.

Yes, sounds like it's all about money!

Have you tried calling laboratories. Some of them will make dentures for you, there fore cutting out the middle man (dentist)

I have tried googling, but am getting Australian results...

try 'same day denture service hackney' or something similar.

Could try here

Not sure what they do, because they don't have a website. Worth a call?