Dentist lied about referral- advice needed

[sbardy18]

Hello, I am new to Mumsnet and would really appreciate some advice on this.

I have constant flare ups with a wisdom tooth that needs to be removed, it was established very early on that this can only be done at the hospital. I saw the dentist after suffering with inflammation and constant re-infection in Aug 2020 and was promised a referral would be put through, was also told due to Covid it's probably going to take a year before I am seen, so I was advised to follow a strict routine of hygiene.

Fast forward to March 2022, suffering from lots of gum pain, sensitivity, earache and jaw pain and struggling to sleep on the side that the tooth is growing in, I called the hospital to check the progress of my referral, to my shock I was informed a referral was only made 06/21. Almost 10 months after the dentist claimed to have referred me, and that they're now currently treating people that were referred 02/21 so still a while to go.

I have had 2 antibiotic prescriptions and multiple appointments at the dentist in the last two years, where I always asked for an update and was always dismissed and told that Covid is causing delays.

What would you do in this situation? I have asked for an emergency appointment and their complaints procedure, I have evidence of asking for this referral back an 08/20 and of the dentist taking x-rays in order to refer me, only for it to seem like she forgot to submit the form for over 10 months .

Bumping for a response

I'm sorry to hear you've had so much trouble, what are you hoping to achieve by complaining?

Your Dental practice has no control of the Hospital waiting list so complaining to your Dental Practice will get you an apology if they referred late but no change in the waiting time.

They will be able to tell you what happened with your referral; someone though someone else had done it, the hospital stopped accepting new referral for a period, the hospital lost the referral, the postal referral never arrived and had to be resent, the Dental Practice didn't have your NHS number, you had moved address and the original referral was rejected as your details didn't match up, the hospital sent an appoinment which you didn't receive so didn't turn up so your referral was cancelled. I can go on.

What your Dental Practice can do is contact the Hospital, state that you are experiencing pain and distress and disturbed sleep and ask for an expediated referral. This will hopefully get you a sooner appointment.

Hi - my dentist fitted a top denture with a metal clip (it felt tight but she said I'd get used to it), which she did not oversee the removal of or advise how to remove. After the advised 24 hrs, I tried to remove it, but the clip remained around my only top - and known vulnerable - back tooth. I eventually did, and thought I'd done it wrong, so wore it the next day. However, removal of it caused more pain - excruciating in fact, and I contacted them to say I would not wear it again. They agreed to my suggestion of professional oversight (without admitting to actual professional negligence, which is the correct term), apologised for the pain caused and offered me a refund, which I followed up with a written complaint, asking for compensation as well for what is now a damaged tooth (online advice: up to £1k.) As I explained, the psychological trauma resulted in physical and mental problems (I was a nervous patient with a - returned - fear of dentists.) I received their response today, blatantly lying about what had really happened, implying that I was lying, and simply apologising for "the discomfort" (offering me a refund, as before.) It made me sick. What do I do to get the compensation I now most definitely deserve; especially having no top teeth (apart from the back tooth, which has since caused pain when I eat or touch with my tongue, is prone to randomly bleed and is loose, due to the very painful removals of the denture)? They are truly guilty of "professional" gas-lighting!!! Please advise.

@Marigold99 complain to the General Dental council contactus.gdc-uk.org/Complaint/Process/13
I did about a different matter when my dentist refused compensation. The GDC found my dentist to be negligent & issued him with a warning after a hearing, one step from losing his right to practice. All of a sudden his insurers decided to pay me significant compensation without having to go to court….

I'd ask the dentist for their side of the story first, because you seem to have only heard from the hospital.

Bit of an update:

I complained, the practice manager rang me after two weeks of back and fourth and apologised as it was down to 'simple human error' still infuriated by the whole experience and have asked to see a different dentist going forward!

As for the removal, I am still waiting for an appointment 😔

You can see someone about compensation as per @Tronkmanton above