What Caused the Current Dental Crisis in the UK?
Other
No one could fail to have seen on the news and current affairs programmes recently about the crisis in dental care.
Although i speak as someone who has no experience in dentistry nor how it is run i feel absolutely awful for all those suffering because, not only can they not get an appointment but can't even find a dentist to take them on.
I have no problems currently but a bit of sensitivity but when i phoned my dentist recently was told i had been taken off their list. I was not warned this would happen and had never failed to attend.
Two things spring to mind and i am sure you will tell me why it can't be so. 1. Why is the dental sector not part of the nhs and 2. Wouldn't it be wonderful if dentists could do some pro bono work. If every dentist could see one person once a week at a reduced price (cost of materials only?) it could make a big difference. But of course we now live in a society where everyone is out for themselves, individually and right up to large corporations.
TheChimp I am not expecting anything for myself. I am just saddened by all the people being denied treatment as they can't even find an nhs dentist and they are in constant pain. I did not attend my dentist during covid (as many didn't) and it was after when I phoned for a checkup I was told I had been struck off. I rang during Covid and was told unequivocally that they did not strike people off without letting them know and give them a chance to attend. They didn't let me know.
Lynibis Neither myself nor partner attended during Covid, when I phoned because check ups were due, the response was they were only seeing emergency cases which was fair enough. Covid restrictions lifted and when booking check ups was told partner was no longer on list but I was - they couldn't explain why!
lilyflower hiya, not heard from you for a while, had a break?
Your story sounds highly suspicious. It's as if they go through and strike off those who are not bringing in money and take on those needing paying treatment. They probably do a few at a time, you were lucky, your husband not so lucky.
The thing is most dentists are Private and like all Private businesses money comes first. I have always thought that all forms of healthcare should be operated under the NHS umbrella , Doctors, Dentists Opticians etc. Most are Private businesses even your local GP is predominately a private business , who works on behalf of the NHS , and like all Private businesses money is the driving force.
Mango4 I do understand that people are in business to make money but wouldn't it be nice if those who make money could do a little in return for their good fortune. I also appreciate they may think others should work and make money but sadly not everyone is intelligent enough to be a high earner and there are more disabled/mentally ill/elderly than ever before and they all need looking after.
I’m due to see my nhs dentist next week. I wonder how much longer they remain with nhs patients before going private. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
I think dentists are not happy with the NHS payments which are much lower than private patients for the same work. I agree dentists should be part of the NHS umbrella with dentists trained by the NHS and then retained for maybe 15 years to pay for the training costs. The issue is now many people pay privately and to a dentist that is much better. If they can push more patients to pay the huge non NHS subsidised prices then it's to their financial benefit. Most dentists would want all private work I'm sure as its the most financially rewarding. On the other side pretty much everyone wants low cost or free dental treatment on the NHS rather than paying for it but in many areas that simply isn't available now.
You could say the government needs to intervene and sort this out but sorting this out would take a lot of money which the government would likely borrow and add to our huge national debt.
The reality is services are going to need to be reduced significantly in the future so its likely the NHS dentist situation will get much worse not better. Maybe the criteria for being eligible will be much more stringent.
It's a bit like the bus situation, people can still get a free bus travel pass when they hit retirement but now there are many less routes than their used to be so the real value of that card is reduced and the costs the government far less but on face value this benefit is the same. Here it is not bus routes but dentists themselves, there are far less doing NHS work so far less payments for the NHS to make the service has been scaled back. Probably NHS dentistry payments have reduced compared to inflation and forcing more dentists to abandon NHS work.
BonzoBanana I personally wouldn't mind paying privately if those costs weren't so high. Most people cannot afford thousands for treatment but might be able to pay more than nhs charges. Surely they can still make a good profit without charging those horrendous private fees.
Yeah i saw on tv a guy who had pulled out his own teeth as he couldn’t get an appointment. That’s obviously very extreme but i agree with you, i do feel sorry for those that need dental care and can’t get it.
I think dentist don't want to be part if the NHS they want to be private I went a few months ago and my dentist said I might need root canal treatment and I would be better going private as the waiting list is about 9 months wait
kate1310 yes, I am sure this is their ultimate aim, probably discussed in dental conferences all over Britain! They will probably be able to make enough money to satisfy by only taking private patients from the rich sector who can afford their prices. Goodness knows what the majority of the population will do who can only afford to keep their heads above water.
I am on pension credit and cannot get NHS treatment. I have paid more than £1000 for the extraction of 3 teeth, This has meant having to go without other things. I had a NHS dentist in Falmouth then moved to Bucks and cannot get on a waiting list. In Cornwall I think there is a central waiting list.
lesleygranny for the life of me I cannot understand why it would cost £1000 to extract 3 teeth. Even allowing for overheads that would appear to be blatant profiteering.
A central waiting list in each large town/county would appear to be a good idea.
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter
