Dentists

M

MFC_1990

Active member
I'm not sure if this has been posted before but the situation with NHS dentists at the moment is an absolute disgrace. I rang my dentist last week for a check up as I hadn't been through the pandemic and they told me due to me not going for over 2 years I've been taken off the NHS list even though there has been a pandemic for over 2 years and will be placed on the private list now. First check up was £60 only to be told when I get there that I need work doing (fillings) which would be a total of over £300! So I've rang all the dentists in my area (Stockton, Norton, billingham, thornaby) not one of them are taking on any NHS patients! How are people expected to just stump up hundreds of pounds on the spot in this climate?!
 
Dentists and GPs, the challenges have been clear for years and have only got worst due to Covid and not a single sensible idea from those in charge on how they are going to sort the issue, not sure they even recognise these as critical in preventative care and that investment actually saves money long term.
 
As horrible as it's been, covid has been a massive 'thank you' to many businesses as well...... a get out of jail card if you like.

The best excuse a business could have asked for
 
Maybe we'll get teams of doctors and dentists flying in from the EU and setting up temporary clinics as we move towards being a third world country.
 
Been looking for years for a new dentist since moving to a different area, not one will take new NHS patients for me or my son without a GP referral and even then most still won't.
 
It just seems both the Dentists and NHS as a whole are really struggling.

I think people getting binned from NHS dentistry because they 'didn't attend' for 2 years is happing everywhere. That's despite covid meaning they couldn't attend.

I had 23 years in the armed forces so never even registered with a dentist. I left and basically laughed at when I was looking for an NHS one. Also told going on a waiting list is pretty much pointless. So I've shelled out around £500 in 2 years going private. I guess I'm private for life now.

Just another issue. I guess it goes hand in hand with trying to see a GP or hospital appointments.
 
£1200 i was expected to just find after a £40 5 min consultation which told me what i already knew severe gum disease
 
I don't think there is a shortage of dentists. The problem seems to swing both ways in that yes, there probably is a benefit in government of keeping NHS dentistry costs low but Dentists aren't short of work, they are just making a fortune by doing the same work "privately" so aren't pushing the NHS for more work. They do the NHS stuff for the people that can't pay like children but in reality it's just reducing their capacity for more private work. They are all wasting time doing cosmetic stuff like teeth whitening, botox injections and adult teeth straightening which could be spent on people that actually need treatment but it makes them a fortune.
 
The NHS contract for dentists is terrible. They get paid per visit, regardless of the amount of work that needs doing - don't blame the dentists, blame the government for not funding them properly. Now where have I heard that before?
 
I've always wondered why the dentist being a separate entity is even a thing? Why isn't the dentist just a part of the hospital? When you need the check-ups, when you're in agony etc therefore leaving the high street 'dentists' to focus on the private/cosmetic ****. You go to hospital for almost everything else, what makes dental medicine different?
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
Maybe we'll get teams of doctors and dentists flying in from the EU and setting up temporary clinics as we move towards being a third world country.
Click to expand...
For a guy who can be on the button you let your bigoted hatred of this country spoil it. Just yesterday I was chatting to a lad from Sudan, did you know they have more pyramids than Egypt? A lot had their tops blown off by an Italian. It's amazing what you can learn. He loves this country, he loves living in Middlesbrough, he loves not having to bribe the police, he loves sending home £400 a month, he loves the culture and safety. Maybe you would feel safer in Khartoum.
 
Feel very lucky, just registered with a new dentist. Excellent care on an emergency slot
 
Same_as_before said:
For a guy who can be on the button you let your bigoted hatred of this country spoil it. Just yesterday I was chatting to a lad from Sudan, did you know they have more pyramids than Egypt? A lot had their tops blown off by an Italian. It's amazing what you can learn. He loves this country, he loves living in Middlesbrough, he loves not having to bribe the police, he loves sending home £400 a month, he loves the culture and safety. Maybe you would feel safer in Khartoum.
Click to expand...

Jaysus, it has come to this.
Lets benchmark our country with Sudan

I've heard people from Syria and Ukraine prefer it here than in their countries too.
 
NYboro said:
The NHS contract for dentists is terrible. They get paid per visit, regardless of the amount of work that needs doing - don't blame the dentists, blame the government for not funding them properly. Now where have I heard that before?
Click to expand...
I'm an NHS Dentist and this is the main issue. Obviously there are lots of contributing factors which I cant type out right now (at work). The current system was supposed to be replaced in 2007 as it was deemed 'not fit for purpose' - and that's the last we heard in the issue.

Ive been 100% NHS since qualifying in 09, but even I am thinking of doing more private. I would actually stand to make less money, but the idea of getting paid for what you do, having more time, better materials, and seeing 7-8 people a day rather than my current 30-35 is appealing.
 
I can understand the reasons for dentists going to private in a way, if I could earn more money in my job now for doing less work and using better equipment I would but the difference in price from NHS to private is just massive.

A lot of families and individuals are working from pay cheque to pay cheque and to ask someone to pay hundreds and hundreds of pounds for something on the spot is very difficult to do especially when you don't you could be left in a lot of discomfort and pain.
 
MFC_1990 said:
I can understand the reasons for dentists going to private in a way, if I could earn more money in my job now for doing less work and using better equipment I would but the difference in price from NHS to private is just massive.

A lot of families and individuals are working from pay cheque to pay cheque and to ask someone to pay hundreds and hundreds of pounds for something on the spot is very difficult to do especially when you don't you could be left in a lot of discomfort and pain.
Click to expand...
I completely agree, hence being 100% NHS In a high needs area for 13 years. After all, they trained me!

The current contract and system is the problem. It’s entirely target driven, and I think target driven health care is an oxymoron. This leads to poor treatment, as we basically have to score enough points or get penalised. It makes you look at a patient and think ‘how do I get the most points out of them?’ Rather than what is best.

Also, if you go over your target, you receive no extra funding. Hence nobody taking on and offering private as an alternative. If I hit my target by Jan, I get paid zero for what I do feb and March until the new tax year. Hence we try to keep our books at a point where you hit the target bang on. There is no incentive whatsoever for taking on new nhs patients.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top