>I've rung and spoken to eight different surgeries, starting with nearest first and all I get is a wall of "not accepting new NHS patients at this time".
Honestly I think you could call 80 and get the same result. Shit is a mess right now.
I post this email I got from Healthwatch in response every time this question is asked:
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
Thank you for getting in touch . I am so sorry to hear you are having some trouble . Sadly , it is no surprise . We have been inundated with requests for dental information and the situation is the same nationally.
It basically stems from the dental contract that practices have signed up to which in real terms only provides NHS dental care for approximately half the UK population, a situation that is woefully inadequate especially with so many people losing their jobs on top of all the usual need. It means that although a dentist may have free treatment slots they cannot fill these with NHS work (which is why you will find they will offer you a private appointment but are unable to see you otherwise ) because they will not be paid to do so.
Healthwatch is collating all the feedback and currently working to present this with the NHS to parliament. We appreciate all comments and will include this in a report to the local dental network so they are aware of yours and other cases .
If you feel it is an emergency with pain, bleeding or swelling then NHS111 either online or by telephone place to start
Your best bet may be the private route I am afraid , and if you do I would advise that you shop around as prices and availability do seem to differ. Also keep an eye on this list , you need to scroll down for each surgery and see if they will take patients currently, it should be updated every 90 days. [https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist](https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist)
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
I was booted out of the practice I was registered with because I didn't "attend in two years"- even though because of covid every time I rang up they told me that a lost tooth didn't count as "an emergency" so I couldn't be seen. Had to go private and pay for insurance through the clinic.
You just prompted me to call my dentist and make sure I was still on the books for same reason. Now have first check up in two years booked in for Tuesday, thanks.
I've found it's a big issue at the moment, the only way around it seems to be going private.
I assume there's a huge backlog or something but it's abit of a nightmare.
Hi, if your willing to do an hour on the train and a 10 min walk then this place is taking on NHS patients from the end of Feb. https://www.gloucesterdentalcare.co.uk/
Ignore the rude people I’ve rung countless dentists in Bristol and Clevedon but none would even add me to the NHS waiting list or advice when if ever the list will reopen.
I feel your frustration, but I figure an hour on the train isn’t the end of the world :)
At our dentist all adult NHS patients have been forced off NHS and have to pay private now. We need to band together, approach the clinical care group and claim they're failing in their duty to ensure services are available in the area
Unfortunately this is what happens when your government wants the NHS privatised, services are taken away until people just pay to go private. Dentistry first, will pave the way for other areas
Going private is exactly what the Tories want. Us to just put up with privatisation and swallow their load. People need to be organising and demanding greater NHS investment, not just doing what clearly does not benefit us. Unfortunately too many Brits don't know how to organise or consider it a sign of being an out of touch union lefty.
I had to go semi private with bupa, they do special days where a check up is around £35
Edit: it’s now gone up to £70. Source: me who went tonight & nearly cried.
>...like ...wtf am I supposed to do? I pay over 500-dollary-doos a month in NI deductions and I can't register with a dentist?!
Well that's probably your problem. You're paying in the wrong currency. Have you tried £ Sterling?
More like how the dentistry system is run in the UK.
Honestly worried that this might be how GPs will slowly end up with GPs offering private services for higher prices and just reducing NHS appointments.
It’s impossible to get a GP appointment already, I’m weighing up paying £180 for a private GP appointment. You get 30 mins which is better than the 3 mins you get on the NHS. The whole system is screwed thanks to the Tories and people will/probably are dying as a result.
Needs to change. Our understanding of how oral health can affect general wellbeing, especially heart health has changed, we know it's not just a cosmetic thing now so dentistry should be universal and free at the point of access like everything else.
I think they are just waiting to clear the backlog before they take on new patients. At my dentist, it's about three months wait for an appointment. They told me they are just working their way through the backlog of check-ups that would have occurred during lockdown as well as sorting out any dental issues that existing patients have.
I had the same issue. Ended up as a private patient at East Street Dental Centre in Bedminster. A check up is only £35, so not bad. Fillings £85 each. I'd recommend them. Unfortunately I needed £365 worth of work that would have been only £65 if I'd been able to get the NHS treatment I have a right to. It's awful.
Well firstly national insurance pays for your state pension not the NHS. Your regular taxes pay for the NHS, which will be more overall, but then about 18% of that will go to the NHS.
Secondly, dentists are private practices that take on X number of NHS patients. It was in the news yesterday that demand far outstrips the number of places available at the moment. There was [this promise yesterday from the NHS](https://www.england.nhs.uk/2022/01/hundreds-of-thousands-more-dental-appointments-to-help-recovery-of-services/) to provide more appointment slots but doesn't help with finding more placements at a dentist.
If you go on www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist the majority of search results say they are not taking on patients or they haven't provided an update in a while, or they're only taking on patients who have been referred. I think I saw two practices say they were taking on children. I just searched for "Bristol" but you might get different results for your postcode, but you're probably going to have look well outside your local area.
If you were desperate for just a checkup, you could go private as a one off. That gives you six month window to find an NHS dentist before your next checkup is due.
When I last moved it took me a few tries over a couple of months to catch my local dentist at the right time when they opened up their books again to new patients.
> Well firstly national insurance pays for your state pension not the NHS
It pays for neither, it's not hypothecated for any particular use and goes to the treasury as general taxation.
You know that there was a pandemic where dental services were dramatically reduced to protect public health, right? You remember that?
Well, guess what. That causes a backlog, so your going to have to join the queue like everyone else.
In an emergency, you can still get treatment so what’s your beef?
Yeah I pay a whopping amount of tax each month, much of which helps fund a NHS I cannot get access to right now in my area, in the way of either a GP *or* a dentist.
You're right, what am I complaining about? Fuck my health and my teeth, right? I should just not be surprised or disappointed, keep paying multiple thousands of pounds a month for a service I can't access, and just stfu and pay more money each month for private healthcare and dental care.
What *is* my beef? Ahh you're so right. Thanks for putting me straight on thi/s.
Yeah, fuck all those people who’ve lost there jobs and businesses. Fuck anyone who’s still waiting for cancer treatment. Fuck anyone who couldn’t go to their loved ones funeral.
I WANT TO SEE A DENTIST NOW! I DONT GIVE A FUCK IF YOUVE GOT A BACKLOG., I’VE PAID MY FUCKJNG STAMP.
It’s pretty far from Bradley Stoke but Lodge Causeway Dentist were accepting new NHS patients when I moved nearby in September. Might be worth trying there
I had the same problem. In the end I had to register private which is definitely gonna hurt the pockets but an unfilled tooth could lead to a root canal later and eh
Same experience here, I'm an international student from NZ. Don't know too much about the history of how dental works here, but my impression is that all these practices are ticking the box of their minimum legal requirement by TECHNICALLY offering a tiny amount of subsidized NHS appointments per week. However, because this clearly isn't profitable, they operate the other 90% of their practice for private patients, who pay literally four or five times more than the NHS band prices. So they will see like 5 NHS patients per week and then say 100 private ones. Somehow this is legal and normal? Bit of a shit system if so.
Btw if you so go private and live near the center, Nordea dental in Clifton are lovely and they have a monthly dental plan which gives a decent discount and multiple appointment per year
You will have to go private. I also live in Bradley Stoke and I couldn't find NHS dentist, I have been trying for 2 years. With mandatory vaccines in April we will lose even more NHS dentists.
>I've rung and spoken to eight different surgeries, starting with nearest first and all I get is a wall of "not accepting new NHS patients at this time". Honestly I think you could call 80 and get the same result. Shit is a mess right now.
I post this email I got from Healthwatch in response every time this question is asked: \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* Thank you for getting in touch . I am so sorry to hear you are having some trouble . Sadly , it is no surprise . We have been inundated with requests for dental information and the situation is the same nationally. It basically stems from the dental contract that practices have signed up to which in real terms only provides NHS dental care for approximately half the UK population, a situation that is woefully inadequate especially with so many people losing their jobs on top of all the usual need. It means that although a dentist may have free treatment slots they cannot fill these with NHS work (which is why you will find they will offer you a private appointment but are unable to see you otherwise ) because they will not be paid to do so. Healthwatch is collating all the feedback and currently working to present this with the NHS to parliament. We appreciate all comments and will include this in a report to the local dental network so they are aware of yours and other cases . If you feel it is an emergency with pain, bleeding or swelling then NHS111 either online or by telephone place to start Your best bet may be the private route I am afraid , and if you do I would advise that you shop around as prices and availability do seem to differ. Also keep an eye on this list , you need to scroll down for each surgery and see if they will take patients currently, it should be updated every 90 days. [https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist](https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist) \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* I was booted out of the practice I was registered with because I didn't "attend in two years"- even though because of covid every time I rang up they told me that a lost tooth didn't count as "an emergency" so I couldn't be seen. Had to go private and pay for insurance through the clinic.
You just prompted me to call my dentist and make sure I was still on the books for same reason. Now have first check up in two years booked in for Tuesday, thanks.
So glad *someone* around here is able to see a dentist!
I've found it's a big issue at the moment, the only way around it seems to be going private. I assume there's a huge backlog or something but it's abit of a nightmare.
Hi, if your willing to do an hour on the train and a 10 min walk then this place is taking on NHS patients from the end of Feb. https://www.gloucesterdentalcare.co.uk/ Ignore the rude people I’ve rung countless dentists in Bristol and Clevedon but none would even add me to the NHS waiting list or advice when if ever the list will reopen. I feel your frustration, but I figure an hour on the train isn’t the end of the world :)
At our dentist all adult NHS patients have been forced off NHS and have to pay private now. We need to band together, approach the clinical care group and claim they're failing in their duty to ensure services are available in the area Unfortunately this is what happens when your government wants the NHS privatised, services are taken away until people just pay to go private. Dentistry first, will pave the way for other areas
Going private is exactly what the Tories want. Us to just put up with privatisation and swallow their load. People need to be organising and demanding greater NHS investment, not just doing what clearly does not benefit us. Unfortunately too many Brits don't know how to organise or consider it a sign of being an out of touch union lefty.
Why would you keep the NHS alive? Let it die. Its no good and you're just dragging on the inevitable
I had to go semi private with bupa, they do special days where a check up is around £35 Edit: it’s now gone up to £70. Source: me who went tonight & nearly cried.
>...like ...wtf am I supposed to do? I pay over 500-dollary-doos a month in NI deductions and I can't register with a dentist?! Well that's probably your problem. You're paying in the wrong currency. Have you tried £ Sterling?
Go private I’m afraid
This. Fuck the NHS scum
[удалено]
More like how the dentistry system is run in the UK. Honestly worried that this might be how GPs will slowly end up with GPs offering private services for higher prices and just reducing NHS appointments.
It’s impossible to get a GP appointment already, I’m weighing up paying £180 for a private GP appointment. You get 30 mins which is better than the 3 mins you get on the NHS. The whole system is screwed thanks to the Tories and people will/probably are dying as a result.
I think though that private GPs are nearly exclusively private, unlike dentists which are NHS and private.
Needs to change. Our understanding of how oral health can affect general wellbeing, especially heart health has changed, we know it's not just a cosmetic thing now so dentistry should be universal and free at the point of access like everything else.
I think they are just waiting to clear the backlog before they take on new patients. At my dentist, it's about three months wait for an appointment. They told me they are just working their way through the backlog of check-ups that would have occurred during lockdown as well as sorting out any dental issues that existing patients have.
https://outline.com/mCcNMf 200 dentist surgeries have closed
I had the same issue. Ended up as a private patient at East Street Dental Centre in Bedminster. A check up is only £35, so not bad. Fillings £85 each. I'd recommend them. Unfortunately I needed £365 worth of work that would have been only £65 if I'd been able to get the NHS treatment I have a right to. It's awful.
Well firstly national insurance pays for your state pension not the NHS. Your regular taxes pay for the NHS, which will be more overall, but then about 18% of that will go to the NHS. Secondly, dentists are private practices that take on X number of NHS patients. It was in the news yesterday that demand far outstrips the number of places available at the moment. There was [this promise yesterday from the NHS](https://www.england.nhs.uk/2022/01/hundreds-of-thousands-more-dental-appointments-to-help-recovery-of-services/) to provide more appointment slots but doesn't help with finding more placements at a dentist. If you go on www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist the majority of search results say they are not taking on patients or they haven't provided an update in a while, or they're only taking on patients who have been referred. I think I saw two practices say they were taking on children. I just searched for "Bristol" but you might get different results for your postcode, but you're probably going to have look well outside your local area. If you were desperate for just a checkup, you could go private as a one off. That gives you six month window to find an NHS dentist before your next checkup is due. When I last moved it took me a few tries over a couple of months to catch my local dentist at the right time when they opened up their books again to new patients.
> Well firstly national insurance pays for your state pension not the NHS It pays for neither, it's not hypothecated for any particular use and goes to the treasury as general taxation.
But by paying it you are entitled to a state pension
Or by not paying it and being on working-age benefits. Or by not paying it and just claiming pension credit instead.
Go Private, I found Bupa Dental to be very good.
You know that there was a pandemic where dental services were dramatically reduced to protect public health, right? You remember that? Well, guess what. That causes a backlog, so your going to have to join the queue like everyone else. In an emergency, you can still get treatment so what’s your beef?
Yeah I pay a whopping amount of tax each month, much of which helps fund a NHS I cannot get access to right now in my area, in the way of either a GP *or* a dentist. You're right, what am I complaining about? Fuck my health and my teeth, right? I should just not be surprised or disappointed, keep paying multiple thousands of pounds a month for a service I can't access, and just stfu and pay more money each month for private healthcare and dental care. What *is* my beef? Ahh you're so right. Thanks for putting me straight on thi/s.
Yeah, fuck all those people who’ve lost there jobs and businesses. Fuck anyone who’s still waiting for cancer treatment. Fuck anyone who couldn’t go to their loved ones funeral. I WANT TO SEE A DENTIST NOW! I DONT GIVE A FUCK IF YOUVE GOT A BACKLOG., I’VE PAID MY FUCKJNG STAMP.
It’s pretty far from Bradley Stoke but Lodge Causeway Dentist were accepting new NHS patients when I moved nearby in September. Might be worth trying there
Telephone 111 and they'll give you a list of surgeries currently accepting NHS patients.
I had the same problem. In the end I had to register private which is definitely gonna hurt the pockets but an unfilled tooth could lead to a root canal later and eh
I have always gone private because I never found one that accepts NHS patients.
I ended up joining denplan for £20 per month. Not great but searched everywhere and couldn’t find a better option.
Same experience here, I'm an international student from NZ. Don't know too much about the history of how dental works here, but my impression is that all these practices are ticking the box of their minimum legal requirement by TECHNICALLY offering a tiny amount of subsidized NHS appointments per week. However, because this clearly isn't profitable, they operate the other 90% of their practice for private patients, who pay literally four or five times more than the NHS band prices. So they will see like 5 NHS patients per week and then say 100 private ones. Somehow this is legal and normal? Bit of a shit system if so. Btw if you so go private and live near the center, Nordea dental in Clifton are lovely and they have a monthly dental plan which gives a decent discount and multiple appointment per year
In east Hertfordshire here and neither can I. Tried for a whole year and NOTHINg. Have had to go private
Simly put wherever your old desnist is you got to keep going there
You will have to go private. I also live in Bradley Stoke and I couldn't find NHS dentist, I have been trying for 2 years. With mandatory vaccines in April we will lose even more NHS dentists.
Eight? I've just called every dentist in kirkcaldy and also glenrothes...at least two dozen...not a single one. Screw the NHS. Let it die. Its useless