RIP NHS Dentists ?

[JohnG]

More and more dentists around here are stopping doing NHS work and are trying to charge people £17 per month for the privilege of having your teeth looked after. They are blaming the government for this, but I wonder if they are just being greedy ?
I saw on the local new that no dentists in Lincolnshire are taking on new NHS patients and so people are being sent to Nottingham for treatment What is happening to this country ? We pay for this with our taxes but are being denied basic dental care

[mcfarfs]

Well they can earn more as private dentists, although I think at the moment a basic NHS dentist gets more than £80K!!

But to be honest it isn't the responsibility of the dentist himself to ensure people get an NHS dentist, that is down to the government.

If you had a skill which could earn you £80k on the NHS or (a complete guess here) £100k (I guess a lot more if you are very good) privately, then you would go private wouldn't you? Although I think new dentists probably have to do a minimum service on the NHS seeings as the Government has paid for most of their training.

[semiskimmed]

i was under the impression it has nothing to do with the money side of things as the dentists get money regardless if its from an individual or the government claims for NHS.
there was a story around my way where a nhs dentist was getting trouble from patients and decided to refuse treating NHS anymore. i dont think its all to do with the cash thing.

[stealther]

I suspect its largely to do with cash but also there has to be other benifits such as reduced paperwork etc. On the whole I suspect its to do with them making more money this way. Not that I care Private or NHS its all far to expensive!
Do your self a favour dont go and save yourself a packet

[andrewjh009]

Part of the problem is that there isn't enough places on dental courses to satisfy the demand for NHS dentists, it isn't simply case of everyone going private for an extra 25%.

[ransoman]

My teeth are insured, 20 quid a month. I almost want to break them so that i can claim.

[Miyazaki]

I take it you have read about the massive increases in costs for NHS dental work?

Over £40 for a standard filling is daylight robbery. Maybe they should make the likes of Cadbury and Nestle pay NHS dental bills?

[JohnG]

I take it you have read about the massive increases in costs for NHS dental work?

No, when was that announced ?

[mjn]

I haven't qualified for NHS dentist fees for a long time, but i found that private dentists made a better job anyway.

[domtheone]

Originally Posted by ransoman

My teeth are insured, 20 quid a month. I almost want to break them so that i can claim.

LMAO

I blame the goverment myself. Not sure why at the moment probably only take a few mins to come up with a credible reason

They're at fault for most that has gone wrong over the past several years so this might as well be their fault as well

[semiskimmed]

Originally Posted by mjn

I haven't qualified for NHS dentist fees for a long time, but i found that private dentists made a better job anyway.

i have to say the guy i see on quite a regular basis is fantastic, im on the NHS and i couldnt be happier with the service ive received. im the other way actually, when ive been to a private dentist, ive had poor quality work done

[JohnG]

Well it's happened again. My mother had to find a new dentist the other year and now this new one has announced that they are going private. A lot of people will not bother going any more and that can't be good. Surely we have a right to a dentist after paying taxes all these years?

[Ultima]

My dentist is a private one......charges me £60 for a checkup, scale and polish every 6 months.

[JohnG]

Personally I don't think it's good practice to have a scale every 6 months as I'm sure I read somewhere it can take away enamel from the teeth every time it's done.
I could be wrong of course

[weetsie]

this has been happening for at least 5 years.

when dentists go private they get more money and they also get to do jobs that are not available on the nhs.

if i was an nhs dentist i would go private.