NHS Dentistry is Changing from 1st April 2006

The Government will introduce major changes to how NHS dentistry is organised on 1st April 2006.
These changes will affect:

• patient registration;
• patient charges;
• how often you are entitled to an NHS check-up;
• emergency care.

At this practice, your dentists have decided to continue to provide NHS care under the new terms, but there will be some changes to the way we work. These are described in this leaflet. Your practice team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the new arrangements. We always aim to provide a high standard of care and service for patients and patients can be assured that this will continue within the new framework established by the Government.

End of registration / Making appointments
The Government’s changes mean that patients will no longer be registered with their dentist, but this does not mean that you cannot continue to see your usual dentist. If you ask us for an appointment, we will try to offer you one as soon as possible at a convenient time within the hours we have set aside for NHS patients. The NHS now asks us to provide a fixed, limited amount of NHS care each year and so we have to allocate our time and our NHS budget accordingly.

You can choose which dentist you would like to see at the practice, but it may not always be possible to arrange this because the particular dentist may not have any NHS time available. You will instead be offered an appointment with a dentist who does have available capacity at that time.

Our NHS practice hours are 9.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm. We can normally provide urgent treatment for patients at short notice during these hours . Urgent treatment means treatment that the dentist considers necessary to relieve severe pain or prevent your oral condition deteriorating before you can make a normal appointment. Out of hours you should call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

NHS patient charges
From 1st April, Government NHS patient charges are changing. If you pay NHS charges, instead of paying a proportion of the cost of your treatment, you will pay one of four fixed charges relating to the type of care and treatment you have had. The charge bands are given below. If you have a check-up and two fillings, for example, you will pay one Band 2 charge of £42.40. If you need a crown as well, you will pay one Band 3 charge of £189. If you need three crowns you will also pay one Band 3 charge of £189. If you need Urgent treatment you will pay £15.50.

NHS dental care is still free to children under 18 or under 19 in full-time education as well as pregnant women and new mothers and people on certain state benefits.

The practice team will be happy to answer any questions you have about the new charges.

Reminders and recalls
At the end of your course of treatment, your dentist will discuss with you when you will need to see a dentist again. NHS dentists will now follow guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on how often patients need to see their dentist, according to their oral health needs. It is no longer the norm for NHS patients to have two NHS check-ups each year, if you do not need them. The Department of Health wishes NHS resources to be allocated to those who need it most. You can of course visit your dentist more often privately if you prefer to talk to your dentist more regularly about your oral health needs, have a regular visit to the hygienist and have the reassurance that all is well.

The current system of sending recalls will continue for the next 6 months. During this transition period patients will be assessed and given a card stating when their next dental check-up and/or Hygienist appointment should be arranged. Responsibility will then pass to the patient to contact the practice at that time to arrange an appointment subject to available capacity. ADVANCE BOOKINGS will not be available within the NHS as we can no longer guarantee ‘available capacity’. Patients who wish to do so may book a ‘private’ check-up in advance, the fee for which is payable at the time of booking the appointment.

Payment of Treatment Fees
Payment of the NHS examination fee (£15.50) will be required at the exam appointment. Patients who are advised to return for treatment will be required to pay the full NHS fee of either £42.40 or £189.00 in advance of appointments being arranged. Fees for private items of treatment will be additional and you will be required to sign a ‘Treatment Plan’ to acknowledge acceptance of the treatment. If you fail to comply with our payment policy we may not be able to complete current or provide NHS treatment in future.

Private care
NHS patients can opt to have part of their treatment privately. Private treatment gives you more time with your dentist as well as personal service, greater choice of materials and higher quality laboratory work for a better aesthetic result. There is also a greater range of treatment options available as cosmetic treatment is excluded from the NHS. Your signed acceptance of the treatment terms will be required.

When the practice is closed
If you need dental advice or care when the practice is closed please telephone NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Further information
If you have any questions about NHS dental care, please ask a member of the practice team. We will be pleased to help. Should you have any comments or concerns, please mention this at the Reception and they will be passed on as appropriate.

For more information on the changes in NHS dentistry, please see the NHS Direct website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. 

Cancellations
If you are unable to keep your appointment please let us know as soon as possible so that we can use the appointment for another patient on our waiting list. If you miss more than 2 appointments or give less than twenty-four hours’ notice of cancellation we may not be able to complete your treatment or offer you NHS care in the future.

Completion of Current NHS Treatment
We have an obligation to the PCT to complete all current courses of NHS treatment by 31st March. Should treatments overlap, ‘Transition Arrangements’ will apply.

Orthodontic Care
This practice will no longer be providing NHS orthodontic care. When patients need orthodontics and meet the Government’s guidelines for NHS care, we will refer you to a local colleague who undertakes NHS work. If the extent of treatment needed is not enough to qualify for NHS treatment, we will refer you to a private Orthodontist of your choice. Private orthodontic services are available at our Wheathampstead practice.

Finally, these changes have been introduced by Government. Our aim is to continue to provide a high standard of care and service for our patients but we have concerns, along with many dentists, about the new system and its impact on patients and dentists.