Annoyed at Dentist!

[Goofyish]

We got a letter today from my DDs' dentist.

Up until now they have had full NHS cover at the dentisit with regular checkups etc.

Basically the letter is telling us they are introducing a "Children's Care Scheme" which is administered by Denplan Care - basically this is private dental cover!
If this was optional it wouldn't be so bad - but the letter states:

"Due to health authority constrictions I anticipate that at some point in the future I will be unable to offer NHS treatment to our young patients and would rather spend more time offering each child an individual tailored plan according to their personal needs. We will be giving priority to our exisitng patients to sign up for our care scheme as numbers are limited. For those of you that choose to remain on the NHS we will maintain a Tuesday afternoon clinic from February 2005 until it becomes uneconomical to do so."

I call that emotional blackmail! We can either pay up and join the scheme or either stay as long as he feels like treating our DDs or try and find another NHS dentist (about as rare as hen's teeth!)

 

[Mike Jones]

Exactly the same's just happened to me Tim! Been with the same practice for 35 years, been taking the kids there since they were born.. and it's now pay up or push off! To the best of my knowledge there are no NHS practices with space within 20 miles of our home. A new practice opeed last year, with room for about 200 NHS patients... 3000 people applied!

Wonderful, free healthcare, isn't it?

 

[Tron[ADS]]

It sickens me just how bad NHS dentist provisions are these days, and theres no sign of it getting any better.

However I could never be mad at my dentist, as she is the most attractive dentist in the world

 

[KayleeUK]

That is not on at all

 

[Hilary]

Same here - we had our letter just before Christmas and are now around £35 per month worse off since DH, eldest DD and I joined Denplan. Once youngest DD gets to 18 it'll be even more From what you've said, it sounds as though we're lucky that the under-18s are still being treated for free in our practice!

We're fortunate that we can afford this without too much trouble, but for those who really can't find that much extra each month there just isn't any choice because there are no NHS dentists left who have room for new patients.

 

[Miffy2003]

We still have an NHS dentist but I fully expect that to end soon. Tim, I agree totally that is emotional blackmail.

 

[AlanUK]

That's terrible

The provision of dental care in this country is appalling, but no matter how bad it gets the government should ensure that all children are covered until they leave full-time education.

I had to go to the dentist last week and I musts have been in and out of his treatment room in under 5 minutes yet it still cost me £25

DW and I were unable to sign on as NHS patients when we joined the practice and our dentist recently sent a letter to all his existing NHS patients saying that he would no longer be treating them on the NHS. The alternative was to find another practice (I don't believe one actually exists within about 300 miles that is accepting new NHS patients) or to pay a £50 retainer to stay signed on at the practice as a private patient . Fortunately as an existing private patient I didn't have to pay this.

I now wish I had done dentistry at University though as it looks like it is becoming a license to print money!!!!

 

[Goofyish]

I feel a letter coming on to be sent to Mr Blur and our MP (I think his name is Treadinit or something? ). I notice Kilroy Silk was at the local golf club the other day so perhaps I'll send one to him too - seeing as he's our MEP

 

[natalielongstaff]

thats terrible !! david treddinnick is your MP tim and i think a strong letter to both of them can't hurt, i hope our dentist doesnt go that way....i am religious about taking the kids every 6 mths it would cost me a fortune

 

[daipp]

My wife has worked in a NHs practice, a private practice, and a NHS/private practice over the years and basically in a private practice, the Dentist can charge what he wants!

The first question one dentist would ask was "What do you do for a living?" and then he would charge accordingly!

David