NHS and Private

[lac1983]

I just wondered

Am i entitled to use a private dentist for some procedures as well as an NHS for others as im currently on an NHS Dentist?

 

[Gordon]

Probably, yes.

 

[lac1983]

its just i want to use sedation (gas) to get my top wisdom teeth out and i dont think my dentist offers it but have found someone that does.

Also i want all white fillings, the front ones arent a problem, its just i want the ones at the back white too, again, im not sure if my dentist will do it either.

Im going to try and see how i get on with doing my front fillings which are small ive been told and also my fissure sealants. Ive already made the appointments with my nhs dentist and concerned they wont be happy and refuse to treat me if i need to cancel some of the appointments.

 

[brit]

Some NHS dentists also do treatments which aren't available on the NHS privately (just ask them - a call to reception should do it) but tbh if you are opting to go privately for wisdom tooth removal so you can have nitrous, if you like the second dentist, you may as well let them do everything and then if you want, return for NHS check-ups once you are 'dentally fit' if dentistry is not an area you wish to shell out on unnecessarily.

A lot depends on how experienced you think your NHS dentist is, especially with changing amalgam fillings for white composite if not clinically required, look them up on GDC Register and see when they qualified..and do the same for the second dentist, google them and see what comes up..it may help you decide which you'd prefer to have treatment with.

If you are seeing an Associate dentist at an NHS practice rather than the principal dentist, the chances are they will move on quickly so you will keep getting a different dentist (major downside of NHS dentistry (always was)especially if you are anxious and don't like change).

I suppose they could 'get funny' about it if you go along for an NHS check-up and then go elsewhere for treatment but they certainly can't hold you to having treatment with them and for the wisdom teeth, you are entirely within your rights to opt for sedation as they don't offer it anyway.

 

[lac1983]

Thanks for that! I do want to use the NHS dentist because i do like him and seemed very understanding, he does look quite young but on the other hand the other dentist i know is very experienced.

I dont want to be struck off this NHS Dentist tho if i do decide to take any treatment if not all at the other dentist as it wasnt an easy task to get one! I plan to tell my NHS Dentist my plans but i have an appointment on monday and i am going to try and get my front fillings done and see where i can go from there. Ive never had/needed a filling or any real work to my teeth in my life until now so its something new for me.

I definitely want to keep my NHS checkups.

 

[annie778]

He should not strike you off the list for having non nhs treatment elsewhere. I'm not sure how it works if you're registered with more than one nhs dentist but private treatment is none of his business as it's a private contract between you and the provider. You don't have to tell him about it just have it done wherever you want.

 

[annie778]

I suppose they could 'get funny' about it if you go along for an NHS check-up and then go elsewhere for treatment.

They should not get funny about it. It's none of their business. Given the choice agenda in the rest of the NHS they should be all for patients using their initiative.

 

[brit]

[out-of-date link removed]

Have a read of this from British Dental Health Foundation NHS patient rights leaflet..there are circumstances where they can refuse to treat you...

 

[lac1983]

Thats great to know! Thanks for that!

 

[brit]

I hope you are right Annie but I think OP needs to handle it tactfully....in order to get the best out of this particular NHS dentist.

I suppose if the NHS check-up fee is a separate charge and the treatment band 1/2/3 is separate from it that might work out fine - because he is just paying for his check-ups. I still think he'd be best claiming he's getting part of the prescribed treatment done elsewhere because of the sedation issue even if that isn't the case because I agree they can't object to that.

It's not quite the same as a GP, since all GPs have to work co-operatively with any type of hospital in their patient's best interest; and since GPs don't carry out hospital type services themselves, they don't feel that the patient is expressing a lack of confidence in their own particular abilities..I think a dentist might feel slighted and just not be as pleasant at future check-up appointments...and who knows what counter-rights they have to claim that the professional relationship has broken down etc etc .

 

[lac1983]

you do have a point there.

I suppose even if i am entitled to go privately, the NHS dentist may not be as helpful in the future should i need it

 

[LittleS]

I've done this the other way round - so I wouldn't give up on the idea of having sedation on the NHS.

I'm a Denplan (private) patient and my dentist referred me for sedation to have three wisdom teeth out on the NHS. I could have had it privately (not with under my Denplan insurance though - as they don't cover sedation), and the only difference was a slight wait for NHS treatment.

To confuse things further, the sedation clinic I went to seemed to be a private practice. But I assume they do this type of work for the NHS on a set day, or something. The cost on the NHS was £44.

As it happened when I went to the clinic on the day for my NHS treatment, I only needed one wisdom tooth out. They were still prepared to sedate me for it, and had the needle in my arm, when I asked if I actually needed the sedation. In the end, I didn't have it and had my one wisdom tooth out with relative ease. But the point for you is that sedation under the NHS is offered - have you asked your dentist if you can have it?

Incidentally, I ended up paying £44 for something my Denplan insurance would have covered me for. But I didn't mind as it was a specialist place and they had an x-ray machine that didn't make me gag.

 

[annie778]

I
It's not quite the same as a GP, since all GPs have to work co-operatively with any type of hospital in their patient's best interest; and since GPs don't carry out hospital type services themselves, they don't feel that the patient is expressing a lack of confidence in their own particular abilities..I think a dentist might feel slighted and just not be as pleasant at future check-up appointments...and who knows what counter-rights they have to claim that the professional relationship has broken down etc etc .

Not necessarily true as GPs are private contractors who are now in charge of acute commissioning budgets and are tasked with moving more care away from hospitals and into the community via such initiatives as Polyclinics and GP led health centres, however, they are still expected to treat patients whether or not they also go private and that is not likely to change. There was recently a big ruling to allow people to part pay for their own drugs.

I guess I don't see a dentist taking such things personally as being very professional. It's a free market and nobody is tied to the NhS as a provider. Obviously dentists are not only healthcare providers, but like GPs are also businessmen and have to break even. So it's more about turnover than hurt professional pride. Tact is always a good idea but the best approach is just go and have work done where you feel most comfortable. If you don't want to upset them, you can always tell your nhs dentist that you were abroad or it was an emergency. Legally they are bound by the contractual terms (at least I think it is a legal contract, but you never know), and you can complain to the PCT if an NHS dentist strikes you off for going private. It is clearly against the contract terms.

 

[Gordon]

The original poster is in Scotland, though and you're all quoting English legislation at her

In Scotland it's perfectly possible to strike a patient off your list at any time, you have to give 3 months' notice, for any reason.

England doesn't actually have any patient registration any more, that was abolished in 2006, but the Scottish NHS still does.

Your NHS dentist would probably be happy to refer you to a sedation practice for the extraction, probably on the NHS, if you ask. They would probably also be happy to provide white fillings privately for you on your back teeth, again if you asked them to.

 

[annie778]

Well spotted. Did not notice that in the corner of the screen.

I guess even if your scots dentist can say "see you jimmy", at least you get free prescriptions when you get a nasty abscess

 

[brit]

The original poster is in Scotland, though and you're all quoting English legislation at her

and Scotland doesn't have the new contract right? So is it still a rate per procedure?
I wouldn't have thought any dentist could object to him going private for sedation for wisdom tooth extraction (he chooses who he sees) rather than asking for an NHS one for which there could be a waiting time.

But yes you are right, his own NHS dentist could probably organise it all for him if that's what he wants including doing the fillings privately himself (isn't that a shady area too about whether a whole course of treatment should be NHS or private?)
All ridiculously confusing for such a small geographical area....

 

[LittleS]

and Scotland doesn't have the new contract right? So is it still a rate per procedure?
I wouldn't have thought any dentist could object to him going private for sedation for wisdom tooth extraction (he chooses who he sees) rather than asking for an NHS one for which there could be a waiting time.

But yes you are right, his own NHS dentist could probably organise it all for him if that's what he wants including doing the fillings privately himself (isn't that a shady area too about whether a whole course of treatment should be NHS or private?)
All ridiculously confusing for such a small geographical area....

I know health authorities vary, but the wait for NHS treatment under sedation may not be all that long. I've just checked what happened with me....

My dentist referred me for NHS sedation at a specialist clinic on Dec 22. Bear in mind that was just before Christmas, I was surprised to get a phone call from the clinic between Christmas and New Year (I think on Dec 29) to check my contact details.

They called me again to book the actual appointment in the New Year. Judging by the date of a post I put on here, that call came on Jan 12 (but it could have been a few days earlier). They offered me an appointment on Feb 12, but that didn't suit me and I opted for Feb 19 - at a time on that day to suit me. So the whole process took less than two months and there was Christmas/New Year in between.

 

[annie778]

I know health authorities vary, but the wait for NHS treatment under sedation may not be all that long.

Probably depends on where you live and what your PCT has negotiated/available.

 

[lac1983]

well after some advice i decided not to go for the white fillings and i think i may not need this other dentist after all, the dentist wasnt as bad as i thought