Access to orthodontia getting harder for NHS patients?

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KriegeR
Posts: 222
Joined: Tue Jun 27, 2006 12:53 pm
Location: Wakefield, UK

Re: Access to orthodontia getting harder for NHS patients?

#1 Post by KriegeR »

Access to specialist dental services for children have been cut by up to 50% in some parts of the UK, according to an article I ran into on the BBC's news site.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5155912.stm
Yes I saw the report on that last night on the live news. It seems that these stupid new god-forsaken NHS dental contracts are to blame, (hardly a surprise is it seeing what they have done to the NHS dental industry on the whole).

The orthodontist who was being interviewed said that his practice could quite easily handle as many as 500 people on the books. However the NHS contract forbids him from ever having more than 200 people on his books to supposedly IMPROVE efficiency!!! :shock:

I think this just goes to show how stupid and narrow minded our government can be. Turning away three fifths of your patients *might* improve efficiency from the perspective of an individual practice or establishment. However with potentially 300 people turned away for each practice, that's hardly improving efficiency overall is it? In fact it's quite the THIS IS SPAM REPORT TO ADMIN THIS IS SPAM REPORT TO ADMIN THIS IS SPAM REPORT TO ADMIN THIS IS SPAM REPORT TO ADMIN - it's creating vast amounts of congestion, which is quite easily categorised as inefficiency.

I'm just glad I'm on with my treatment now, and that I'm an adult. If I was under 18 I wouldn't stand a chance.

Also if any people from outside the UK are looking at this and thinking, "WHAT THE...?!?!"; welcome to the logic of the UK government!
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Henna_the_braceface
Posts: 180
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:51 am
Location: Sheffield, UK

#2 Post by Henna_the_braceface »

yep I saw it on the news last night. Im glad ive at least started my treatment. My brother is also on the NHS like me and has had to wait AGES for his treatment which has not yet started yet. Lucyloop I go to a dental hospital too. :)
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babymetalmouth
Posts: 267
Joined: Tue Jun 27, 2006 5:24 am
Location: ENGLAND!

#3 Post by babymetalmouth »

Im lucky... If I hadnt rang them and told them I didnt need to wait till June for my last baby tooth to come out I wouldnt have started early. And then I wouldnt have got my braces now, I not dont think I have to pay anything becuase ive already started my treatment am i right? Hopefully...
Sorry for typos, I BLAME MSN!
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franco
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:16 am

#4 Post by franco »

I'm from London and am having a nightmare trying to get referred. My dentist seemed to think orthodontic treatment was not available for adults on the NHS so refused to refer me. I then checked with Guys Hospital and was told it was possible and that I should get the referral done through my GP. Unfortunately the referral still wasn't received 5 months later.

Right now I'm in the situation where my new dentist will probably agree to refer me to Guys or to a local Orthodontist suggested to me by the local Primary Care Trust. However, this particular Orthodntist has told me the consultation is only free if I qualify for NHS treatment, but then will not tell me what circumstances I need to be in to qualify for treatment.

I am 28 and have an overbite as well as gapped teeth. My case is mostly cosmetic apart from the fact that I engage in contact sports and am more likely to get whacked in the upper teeth when I take any impact to the face.

It's just awful that I have been making enquiries for about a year and have been given so much incorrect information. Now even if I do get referred to Guys, I will be waiting another year just to be seen.
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