Hi Saffie
The waiting is very frustrating. I started with my first appointment in 1999 and cancelled one appointment, so when I tried to rearrange, they said I was on the waiting list for a new appointment, however my notes had been sent to the I AM A SHITHEAD SPAMMER. PLEASE REPORT ME TO THE ADMIN!. While I thought I was waiting for another appointment, in fact I wasn't even on the list. After 3 years (with calls every few months to a secretary who just said she would pass the message on), I had to be re-referred. Another few years waiting then 3 years in braces, surgery, and another 6 months in braces. That was one and a half years ago, but it was all still worth it.
Just don't let them fob you off. Keep asking. I was too willing to wait. Tell them my story. How it took almost 10 years from start to finish because they messed up. How you don't want that to happen because of bad systems in the NHS!
NHS Adventures - is this normal?
Moderator: bbsadmin
I agree, persistence is the key. I've lost count of how many times i've had to phone the orthodontist chasing up various apointment letters which never arrived. I thought I was all set to get braces at the end of last year, until they decided to refer me to a joint clinic with my ortho and a surgeonsweetpea wrote:Just don't let them fob you off. Keep asking. I was too willing to wait. Tell them my story. How it took almost 10 years from start to finish because they messed up. How you don't want that to happen because of bad systems in the NHS!
My apointment is at the end of this month and i've got a dreaded feeling it's going to end with yet another referral, this time to a psychologist... I do wonder if this process is ever going to begin!!Can I ask where you're going for your treatment Saffie? I'm at Edinburgh Dental Institute.
Laura
Lau49 - I'm being treated (or not) at the Edinburgh Dental Institute too. It's a stupidly frustrating process and I don't understand why they do things in such a convoluted way!
If your first appointment at the orthognathic clinic is the same as mine, all that will happen is that you get some stuff to read and they explain the braces/surgery process, and then tell you that you need to see the psychologist. Honestly, they could save everyone the time and just send out some leaflets and a psychologist's referral in the post.
I'm still waiting for the referral a month after my last appointment, but no one knows what's going on and the orthodontist has now gone on holiday without bothering to reply to the e-mails the receptionist sent last week to ask about it. And I've still got to go back to another consultation with the surgeon and orthodontist after I've seen the psychologist, before they decide what they're going to do next. From what I can tell, most of the people on this board didn't even meet the surgeon until they were almost ready for the op, but not at EDI - which is a shame because he's a difficult person to get along with. Maybe we should start a thread for other patients to come out and moan about this clinic, then maybe we'll get an answer about how many pointless appointments you need to have before they let you get braces...
Good luck with your appointment, but watch out for the surgeon. The best advice I can give you is to practise describing what you want the surgery to change about your facial appearance, and prepare yourself to be pounced on with questions.
If your first appointment at the orthognathic clinic is the same as mine, all that will happen is that you get some stuff to read and they explain the braces/surgery process, and then tell you that you need to see the psychologist. Honestly, they could save everyone the time and just send out some leaflets and a psychologist's referral in the post.
I'm still waiting for the referral a month after my last appointment, but no one knows what's going on and the orthodontist has now gone on holiday without bothering to reply to the e-mails the receptionist sent last week to ask about it. And I've still got to go back to another consultation with the surgeon and orthodontist after I've seen the psychologist, before they decide what they're going to do next. From what I can tell, most of the people on this board didn't even meet the surgeon until they were almost ready for the op, but not at EDI - which is a shame because he's a difficult person to get along with. Maybe we should start a thread for other patients to come out and moan about this clinic, then maybe we'll get an answer about how many pointless appointments you need to have before they let you get braces...
Good luck with your appointment, but watch out for the surgeon. The best advice I can give you is to practise describing what you want the surgery to change about your facial appearance, and prepare yourself to be pounced on with questions.
is NHS like a socialized free health care system in UK or something?
i thought i had it bad by waiting for my insurance to approve (it got denied, had to file claim) which took from november to very end of march).
i thought i had it bad by waiting for my insurance to approve (it got denied, had to file claim) which took from november to very end of march).
BSSO and Le Fort I surgery + nose straightening done on May 4th.
Current status: Waiting for braces to come off next week! (09/20)
Current status: Waiting for braces to come off next week! (09/20)
Thanks Saffie, I suspected as much! I'm pretty sure they'll fob me off too, particularly as they seem unsure about whether they can treat me with braces alone or a combination of braces/surgery. I'm in two minds whether or not to just call it quits (but then I know i'd regret it when I look back in a year or so and wish i'd persisted with the whole process. I keep telling myself that i'm lucky to be (hopefully) getting treated on the NHS because it's such an expensive procedure otherwise).
I'm sorry it's taking you so long to get started. I know they say 'good things come to those who wait' but it really is ridiculous isn't it! I'm going to try and prepare myself for this apointment the best I can and then see what happens on 26th...
Laura
I'm sorry it's taking you so long to get started. I know they say 'good things come to those who wait' but it really is ridiculous isn't it! I'm going to try and prepare myself for this apointment the best I can and then see what happens on 26th...
Laura
Teylix - NHS stands for "National Health Service", and yes, it's the British free healthcare system, although I wouldn't refer to it as 'socialized healthcare' because of all the negative connotations - most of which aren't deserved. The only problem is when it comes to certain non-essential treatments there can be a lot of waiting around because things like orthognathic surgery aren't a huge priority. There's absolutely no question about whether I will get the treatment (unless the psychologist thinks it's going to give me a nervous breakdown), but they've been a bit vague on when it's going to happen.
However, when it does happen, I won't have to pay anything for the treatment because it is covered by the government. And if I have an accident or get diagnosed with a serious illness, I don't need to worry about whether I can afford orthodontics along with all the other medical bills. It costs me nothing to see my primary care doctor, and if I need a prescription it costs £5 regardless of what it is. Until I was 19 I didn't even have to pay the small contributions for dental checkups or eye tests, and could even have got my glasses for free. The waiting sucks, but overall it isn't a bad system, it's just that I'm impatient and have to wait in a queue for a maxilofacial surgery service that also treats people who have problems like cleft palate or oral cancer, so I'm not exactly a priority.[/b]
However, when it does happen, I won't have to pay anything for the treatment because it is covered by the government. And if I have an accident or get diagnosed with a serious illness, I don't need to worry about whether I can afford orthodontics along with all the other medical bills. It costs me nothing to see my primary care doctor, and if I need a prescription it costs £5 regardless of what it is. Until I was 19 I didn't even have to pay the small contributions for dental checkups or eye tests, and could even have got my glasses for free. The waiting sucks, but overall it isn't a bad system, it's just that I'm impatient and have to wait in a queue for a maxilofacial surgery service that also treats people who have problems like cleft palate or oral cancer, so I'm not exactly a priority.[/b]
£5. for your prescriptions gosh i get ripped off down here in the south we pay £7.50 !!!Saffie wrote:Teylix - NHS stands for "National Health Service", and yes, it's the British free healthcare system, although I wouldn't refer to it as 'socialized healthcare' because of all the negative connotations - most of which aren't deserved. The only problem is when it comes to certain non-essential treatments there can be a lot of waiting around because things like orthognathic surgery aren't a huge priority. There's absolutely no question about whether I will get the treatment (unless the psychologist thinks it's going to give me a nervous breakdown), but they've been a bit vague on when it's going to happen.
However, when it does happen, I won't have to pay anything for the treatment because it is covered by the government. And if I have an accident or get diagnosed with a serious illness, I don't need to worry about whether I can afford orthodontics along with all the other medical bills. It costs me nothing to see my primary care doctor, and if I need a prescription it costs £5 regardless of what it is. Until I was 19 I didn't even have to pay the small contributions for dental checkups or eye tests, and could even have got my glasses for free. The waiting sucks, but overall it isn't a bad system, it's just that I'm impatient and have to wait in a queue for a maxilofacial surgery service that also treats people who have problems like cleft palate or oral cancer, so I'm not exactly a priority.[/b]
And as for it being free its not really because everyone who works contributes part of their wage (like tax) to the National Insurance so we are all puttign our money into a big pot which is then distrabuted to each hospital accordingly. Its probably a fairer way of doing things as everyone is accepted for treatment within reason.
wisdom teeth removed under GA nov07 * Braced 8/2/08 * 2 premolars removed Apr08 * Adjustment 4 rebonding, 4 molar bands & new wire 4/7/08 * 31Jul wire change * 28 Aug last wire fitted and lower powerchain put on. 29th May moulds and x rays. 31st July Surgery date 
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Muffinmamma
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 7:18 am
Hi Saffie, awful to hear what you are going through. As always in the NHS there seems to be a big difference between care in different areas.
My experience in Sussex is quite the reverse of yours, no one has even asked me why I wanted the surgery,or how I feel about it. It was offered when I went in with overcrowded teeth and as it turned out I have an underdeveloped lower jaw, surgery was part of the normal pathway, I was amazed they offered it when it seemed purely cosmetic.
I had my op last week, but originally it would have been Feb but was cancelled. It really was devastating, as if my life was on hold. My advise is to do something positive, to prepare for the new you- get fit, change your hair, learn something new.. just to keep focused on the positive goal you have ahead of you and keep your mind off the frustration.
My experience in Sussex is quite the reverse of yours, no one has even asked me why I wanted the surgery,or how I feel about it. It was offered when I went in with overcrowded teeth and as it turned out I have an underdeveloped lower jaw, surgery was part of the normal pathway, I was amazed they offered it when it seemed purely cosmetic.
I had my op last week, but originally it would have been Feb but was cancelled. It really was devastating, as if my life was on hold. My advise is to do something positive, to prepare for the new you- get fit, change your hair, learn something new.. just to keep focused on the positive goal you have ahead of you and keep your mind off the frustration.
Thanks Muffinmama.
The whole situation is starting to drive me crazy, because I spent over half an hour on the phone to three different hospitals to find out what is supposed to be happening with my appointments. After waiting for a week for the orthodontist to get back from holiday, I phoned the dental hospital to ask whether he had written my referral to the psychologist, but it turns out that it was the surgeon who was meant to do this. The surgeon works at a hospital outside of the city, which is the regional centre for elective surgery, and a call to his office confirmed that a letter had been sent, but the woman on the phone was the least helpful so far, and complained about me asking questions about who I was referred to. Eventually, and with bad grace, she dug out the letter and gave me the name of a doctor at the main city hospital, but said I would need to look up the number in the yellow pages. So I phone the main hospital switchboard, and there's no one in the office I've been referred to. It takes two days for anyone to respond to the message I leave on the answering machine, and when they do call back it's to tell me that they won't know whether they have my referral until the doctor gets back from his two-week holiday - and he's a psychiatrist, not a psychologist (I'm not keen on psychiatrists; nothing to do with fear of the mental illness stigma, it's just that I've met psychiatrists before and wouldn't trust them an inch).
The whole situation is starting to drive me crazy, because I spent over half an hour on the phone to three different hospitals to find out what is supposed to be happening with my appointments. After waiting for a week for the orthodontist to get back from holiday, I phoned the dental hospital to ask whether he had written my referral to the psychologist, but it turns out that it was the surgeon who was meant to do this. The surgeon works at a hospital outside of the city, which is the regional centre for elective surgery, and a call to his office confirmed that a letter had been sent, but the woman on the phone was the least helpful so far, and complained about me asking questions about who I was referred to. Eventually, and with bad grace, she dug out the letter and gave me the name of a doctor at the main city hospital, but said I would need to look up the number in the yellow pages. So I phone the main hospital switchboard, and there's no one in the office I've been referred to. It takes two days for anyone to respond to the message I leave on the answering machine, and when they do call back it's to tell me that they won't know whether they have my referral until the doctor gets back from his two-week holiday - and he's a psychiatrist, not a psychologist (I'm not keen on psychiatrists; nothing to do with fear of the mental illness stigma, it's just that I've met psychiatrists before and wouldn't trust them an inch).
Yes, it's me again. I always come back when I've got something new to whinge about. After a month of phone calls and waiting for doctors to come back from holiday because apparently nobody else can look up my notes and check what is going on with my referrals... I'm no further forward.
The surgeon - who is the only one in this region who does orthognathic surgery - referred me to the wrong psychologist, even though he won't take on a patient without a psychological assessment. The psychologist wrote back *two months ago* to say that he had the wrong guy, nobody did anything about it. He wrote to me too, but my notes had been screwed up so the letter went to a flat I moved out of three years ago (and I'm on my second new address since then). Basically, no one seems to have a clue what's going on, and I've had two months added on to my waiting time.
I've written to complain because there's no excuse for messing up paperwork like this, and I'm speaking as an administrator here. When it eventually comes to the surgery, I think I'll be writing the most important bits of my medical history on my arms in permanent marker just for some peace of mind.
The surgeon - who is the only one in this region who does orthognathic surgery - referred me to the wrong psychologist, even though he won't take on a patient without a psychological assessment. The psychologist wrote back *two months ago* to say that he had the wrong guy, nobody did anything about it. He wrote to me too, but my notes had been screwed up so the letter went to a flat I moved out of three years ago (and I'm on my second new address since then). Basically, no one seems to have a clue what's going on, and I've had two months added on to my waiting time.
I've written to complain because there's no excuse for messing up paperwork like this, and I'm speaking as an administrator here. When it eventually comes to the surgery, I think I'll be writing the most important bits of my medical history on my arms in permanent marker just for some peace of mind.
Ohh the joys of EDI... I'm thankful to say my joint clinic with the surgeon went pretty smoothly, but now i've been sent back on the waiting list because there aren't enough orthodontists at the dental institute! Apparantly a consultant left and they're yet to replace her. I was under the impression that this was me ready to get braces, but now i've been told it's september at the earliest before i'll be seen again (bearing in mind they already have my molds, x-rays, okay from the surgeon and everything else that is needed in order to begin treatment!)
I really hope your referral gets sorted soon. I thought i'd reply to your message just to let you know my experience and share your frustration! After I got back from my appointment I wrote a letter to my orthodontist stating my concerns about how long this process is taking (he suggested I do that so he could then present it to the NHS people higher up to show that patients are getting disatisfied). I'm so sick of jumping through hoops but i'll try anything to get things moving. It might be worth sending a letter to the surgeon about your referral (or lack of) and ask if he can give you a better answer of what's going on?
I'm thankful to say my joint clinic with the surgeon went pretty smoothly, but now i've been sent back on the waiting list because there aren't enough orthodontists at the dental institute! Apparantly a consultant left and they're yet to replace her. I was under the impression that this was me ready to get braces, but now i've been told it's september at the earliest before i'll be seen again (bearing in mind they already have my molds, x-rays, okay from the surgeon and everything else that is needed in order to begin treatment!)I really hope your referral gets sorted soon. I thought i'd reply to your message just to let you know my experience and share your frustration! After I got back from my appointment I wrote a letter to my orthodontist stating my concerns about how long this process is taking (he suggested I do that so he could then present it to the NHS people higher up to show that patients are getting disatisfied). I'm so sick of jumping through hoops but i'll try anything to get things moving. It might be worth sending a letter to the surgeon about your referral (or lack of) and ask if he can give you a better answer of what's going on?
We should start an EDI complainers group. Maybe if there were more of us we would start getting somewhere.
It sounds like I might have made some progress though, because I have been told that I should get a letter with a date for my psychologist's appointment within the next week. Fingers crossed...
I love the way the receptionists at the orthodontic clinic give you the brush off on the phone by dropping "so your next appointment is on [date a month or two in the future]" into the conversation when you try to say you're not happy. They don't want me to pester them again, but if I hadn't kept phoning up I would still be in the administrative black hole. It really annoys me because I work in admin and my boss wouldn't let me get away with that level of inattention to detail.
It sounds like I might have made some progress though, because I have been told that I should get a letter with a date for my psychologist's appointment within the next week. Fingers crossed...
I love the way the receptionists at the orthodontic clinic give you the brush off on the phone by dropping "so your next appointment is on [date a month or two in the future]" into the conversation when you try to say you're not happy. They don't want me to pester them again, but if I hadn't kept phoning up I would still be in the administrative black hole. It really annoys me because I work in admin and my boss wouldn't let me get away with that level of inattention to detail.
URGH. My local NHS people lose so very, very much.
Because the surgeon sat on his backside for two and a half months, the psychiatrist's appointment that I have finally managed to get isn't until 17th August - that's a whole week after my next orthodontist/surgeon appointment, which they said I wasn't supposed to go to until I've seen the psychiatrist. Now I've got the dilemma of whether to phone the orthodontist's clinic to ask whether there's any point in me coming in next month, or if they're just going to refuse to discuss treatment with me because I don't have a note to prove that I'm sane. If they're just going to tell me to bugger off until I've had the other appointment, then it's not worth me losing a day of my summer holiday - but there's only one day a month when they have orthognathic appointments, so if I don't go to this one I probably won't get another chance until about October, and then there's about a three month wait after that to get braces put on. There's no chance that I can change the psychiatrist's appointment because I phoned that office and I've got the only free appointment before November.
Right now I just want to go and smash some lightbulbs. The old kind, not energy saving ones. It's so cathartic doing that.
Because the surgeon sat on his backside for two and a half months, the psychiatrist's appointment that I have finally managed to get isn't until 17th August - that's a whole week after my next orthodontist/surgeon appointment, which they said I wasn't supposed to go to until I've seen the psychiatrist. Now I've got the dilemma of whether to phone the orthodontist's clinic to ask whether there's any point in me coming in next month, or if they're just going to refuse to discuss treatment with me because I don't have a note to prove that I'm sane. If they're just going to tell me to bugger off until I've had the other appointment, then it's not worth me losing a day of my summer holiday - but there's only one day a month when they have orthognathic appointments, so if I don't go to this one I probably won't get another chance until about October, and then there's about a three month wait after that to get braces put on. There's no chance that I can change the psychiatrist's appointment because I phoned that office and I've got the only free appointment before November.
Right now I just want to go and smash some lightbulbs. The old kind, not energy saving ones. It's so cathartic doing that.
Edinburgh Dental institute
Hi Saffie,Saffie wrote:Lau49 - I'm being treated (or not) at the Edinburgh Dental Institute too. It's a stupidly frustrating process and I don't understand why they do things in such a convoluted way!
If your first appointment at the orthognathic clinic is the same as mine, all that will happen is that you get some stuff to read and they explain the braces/surgery process, and then tell you that you need to see the psychologist. Honestly, they could save everyone the time and just send out some leaflets and a psychologist's referral in the post.
I'm still waiting for the referral a month after my last appointment, but no one knows what's going on and the orthodontist has now gone on holiday without bothering to reply to the e-mails the receptionist sent last week to ask about it. And I've still got to go back to another consultation with the surgeon and orthodontist after I've seen the psychologist, before they decide what they're going to do next. From what I can tell, most of the people on this board didn't even meet the surgeon until they were almost ready for the op, but not at EDI - which is a shame because he's a difficult person to get along with. Maybe we should start a thread for other patients to come out and moan about this clinic, then maybe we'll get an answer about how many pointless appointments you need to have before they let you get braces...
Good luck with your appointment, but watch out for the surgeon. The best advice I can give you is to practise describing what you want the surgery to change about your facial appearance, and prepare yourself to be pounced on with questions.
Can I ask who the surgeon is ? - I was treated by Mr Lello
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monstermunchecosse
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2009 6:40 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Hi all
Another member here from Edinburgh i've been lurking on this board for over a year now only joined in to let you know i will have surgery soon -November 25th.
Had two appointments at the EDI each after 40 minutes wait discussed the surgery briefly and was both done within 5 minutes only to go over what was in the leaflet which covered the same things.
Saffie and Lau49 can i ask How is the treatment/progress coming along? and in particular the difficult person you are seeing?
Another member here from Edinburgh i've been lurking on this board for over a year now only joined in to let you know i will have surgery soon -November 25th.
Had two appointments at the EDI each after 40 minutes wait discussed the surgery briefly and was both done within 5 minutes only to go over what was in the leaflet which covered the same things.
Saffie and Lau49 can i ask How is the treatment/progress coming along? and in particular the difficult person you are seeing?