hopefully someone may be able to help re: above applying for exemption via low income scheme nhsbs have told me over phone that they will only accept accounts as proof of self employed earnings. don't have any as I don't earn enough, I receive housing benefir council tax reduction and working tax credits have offered them the last 3 years certificates along side the income form, they say that's not good enough. any one got an idea what I should do now got treatment coming up for level 3 cant afford it.

Hi, I am a bit confused about what I should receive as an NHS patient at a dentist. My OH and I have always gone private and paid lots of the years, but neither of us have a check up in over six years. I always felt I had good teeth and have flossed since my teens. Anyway, I broke a tooth last week and rang around to see if any local dentists were taking on NHS patients locally. I found one and booked the earliest appointment they had, which was last Friday. The dentist took about 4 x-rays and told me I had severe gum disease and no teeth could be replaced until this was treated, but said I would probably need this treated privately at over £1,000. I know it is not a huge amount for dental work, but it is for me. I said I would speak to my husband before agreeing to anything, to which she responded "THEY ARE YOUR TEETH!" My husband emailed them as to why the work was not covered on the NHS and he just received back a reply saying: "She was informed that she has advanced periodontal disease. She informed us that she had not had a dental check up for several years which is perhaps why it had not been identified earlier. She also presented with 2 broken teeth which we have had a look at and advised that they are broken down to a level where they cannot be fixed and removal is indicated. Removal of teeth can be done any time and it was not said to her that she needed to have gum disease treatment before this could be carried out. However, no advanced restorative work (if indicated) can be carried out until her periodontal disease is stabilised which can take several months. Three options were given to her for treatment of this, in order of level of success rates: 1) Private referral to an external periodontist (specialist in gum disease treatment)-best option for someone with advanced gum disease 2) Private referral to the hygienist (in house)-second best option for someone with advanced gum disease; reassess and consider a referral to a specialist if no response to treatment 3) NHS band 2 treatment as an initial course of treatment-this would be standard treatment with the dentist; reassess and consider a referral to a specialist if no response to treatment Please let us know which way Maggie would like to proceed." The tone of the email seems going for Option 3 would almost certainly lead to a referral to a specialist. Should I look for another dentist? Any advice, based on experiences, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Maggie

Hi guys, I used to be a lodger at someone’s house and he handed me a letter yesterday (100817) in my name dated 1 May 2017 titled NHS dental treatment charges - penalty charge. I went for a check up at a dentist on 4 March and they are claiming that I ticked the box for HC2 exemption for free NHS treatment (unsure – just wanted it over with as I was in agony at the time with toothache) It lists the payment as £53.90 treatment charge £100 penalty charge It also states on the back that if you are included in an award for Universal Credit (UC) and you had no earnings for the last complete assessment period of £435 or less then the NHS will cover the cost I have just ring UC and they told me my claim was closed on 170717. I have asked them to send me this as a letter (again landlord’s address) and they told me they would in 2nd class post. However I have no idea about the amount of earnings in the assessment period. Can someone clarify that if I did earn over £435 then I would be liable? I am wondering whether I should get involved with this at all. The person I lived with is extremely unreliable and for all I know this penalty may have increased or I have received further letters in my name there. I no longer require dental treatment and have moved on from this now. Please advise whether I should contact them? I do not want to dodge the system but I have moved away from the city and even getting mail from him is difficult now Thanks LP

I recently received a letter from the NHS informing me I have to pay a penalty charge of £94 on top of £18.80 for my check-up. in 1980 I was diagnosed with Epilepsy and informed by my GP and my Dentist that due to my medication(Phenytoin) I would not have to pay for dental treatment. I have never been told by anyone that this is no longer the case. If I now have to pay then that's fine but I have not received any correspondence from the NHS informing me of changes to the rules and I object to a penalty charge for that amount for something I think is not my fault I've been with this Dentist for over a decade and always fill the form in before the course of treatment and they've not contacted me before. I do have a NHS Medical Exemption Certificate and I'm in receipt of Tax Credits. Does anyone know if and when the rules changed? Many thanks in advance.

hello all i was previously claiming ESA for the last 2 years, then failed a health assessment last december saying i have 0 points but my condition has got worse and not better. i was rejected and made a claim for mandatory reconsideration and spoke to my GP about what i should do with my nhs prescriptions, since i need 14 diff medicines every 2 weeks on repeat, he gave me a sick note and told me to post it to them with my mandatory consideration form ad then told me to just continue signing the ESA tick box, ifelt uneasy about it but he told me it will be fine and if theres any problems just direct them to him. after a dentist appointment i was set a letter yesterday saying we found out your not in recipt of ESA and now own a penalty charge of 18GBP + 108 ad have 28 days to pay or else +48GBP will be added on top im so stressed i have no money at all to pay for this and am still waiting for my mandatory descision am i in big trouble? should i go back and tell my GP?

Good morning everyone! I've just returned home from my dental clinic. I didn't go to work today because i had this appointment. Can u imagine my shock when I came at the clinic by 12:00 sharp, it was the time of the appointment, only to know that the "hygienist is not in today".. They told me that they tried to contact me, but could't. But they are lying to me: there are no missed calls from them, no texts and no emails. Usually they do inform me of anything via text messaging AND email. If I was notified about such an important thing as a change to my appointment or its cancellation, I would have gone to work. But in this case I just simply lost one full working day's wages. I really am eager to know what can I do to the Dental Clinic? It is a private Dental Clinic(http://www.smileimpressions.com/), where I did use their NHS services couple of times, and where they imposed me paid services of a hygienist - I paid 25 pounds in advance for this appointment. They said they couldn't refund me my money today, and I need to come on Tuesday to have it. What can I do to make them compensate the day lost because their unprofessionalism and negligence? Should I write them some letter first, or what? Thank you in advance!

So, as a student, I've just returned home from University for Christmas to find a "Final Letter Before Action" letter from NHSBSA. Obviously I can't have official letters going to my temporary residence, so bank statements and important things are sent to my permanent address. For those that don't know, for students living away from home our parents house is still our 'permanent address'. The date on the letter is 9th of December. I was told by my Mum that the letter arrived on the 19th of December, yet the letter claims that it will take legal proceedings if the full amount is not paid in 7 days. To add to that, I never actually received a first letter, at any address. This letter came as a huge shock. The amount they expect is £201.30, including the £50 surcharge. I have no idea what's going on and if I'm honest, I'm a little bit worried, unfortunately they're closed now so I can't ring up tonight so have all of tonight to worry about this. As a student, I get my student loans and do not have a part-time job. At my home address, the household income is 0 since my mother is medically retired due to Multiple Sclerosis. This is the second HC2 form I've had. I had one from roughly 2012-Sept 13 when I reapplied and was offered a HC1 instead, at that time I was working part-time 15 hours a week at £6.31. When I left that job due to returning to University (it was basically a summer job between Uni year's) I reapplied and was given a HC2 form. I believe that ran out on October 2015. Since then I've not been back although I did intend to reapply. Can anybody offer any advice on what's going on? Tomorrow can't come soon enough I just want this solved. I read that the maximum penalty is £100, with the surcharge that's £150 so I'm unsure how they even got £201.30?

Hi Hoping one or more of the gurus on here can answer this for me. I'm 64 years of age and live in Wales. Since having cancer treatment I have been having dental treatment to remove plaque from my teeth. Initially this was done at a hospital dental department and there was no charge for treatments, due to a shortage of hygienists the hospital passed me on to my NHS dental practice initially for 2 monthly visits which have quickly been reduced to 4 monthly simply because I'm managing to do a reasonable job of keeping the plaque down myself. Since going to the NHS practice the routine has been a visit for a checkup then a second visit to see the hygienist . I have never spent more than 5 minutes (timed) with the hygienist or the dentist. From my first treatment onwards I have been charged £43 each time. I queried this and was told it was because I have deep pockets between teeth and gums but I have found no mention on the NHS Wales site that this is a treatment that does not qualify as treatment included in the fee for a check up which does include a scale and polish and which I do not have to pay due to my age. Should I be paying for these treatments.

Dear all, I have had an unfortunate experience with the General Dental Council (GDC) - they made a total hot mess (putting it mildly and politely) of a complaint I presented to them regarding a dentist on their register. I have initiated their complaints procedure and the response I eventually received some months later only added to my concerns. I understand I need to challenge their decision through the courts (high court it seems). Does anyone know the deadlines for this as I fear I have missed this due to the deliberate delay in receiving a response to my complaint? Also, does anyone know if legal aid is available for cases such as this? Many thanks.

I used to be on the dole but on my visit a few months ago to the dentist, I told the receptionist that was working there I was no longer on benefits and could she update the system to show this...she also gave me a blue paper to sign which I did (I assumed this was normal procedure) after I had told her to update the system to show I was not on the dole anymore. Last week I got a NHS DENTAL PENALTY CHARGES NOTICE for £150.00! I was gobsmacked because I remember telling the receptionist to update the system to show I was not on the dole, so this would not happen. Luckily I had another dental appointment this week and explained to a receptonist the above, she said she could not understand why the receptonist months ago on my last visit had not updated the system and told me to email the practice manager who would investigate this and also locate the blue slip I was asked to sign (after telling the receptionist on my visit a few months earlier I was no longer on the dole) I emailed the practice manager explaining I had told the receptionist on my last visit I was no longer on the dole and to update the system to show this. This is the email I received in response from the practice manager ' Thank-you for your recent email, in which you state that you were not in receipt of any benefits on (date), as you has NHS treatment there is a set NHS fee to pay. The charge is levied irrespective of any misunderstanding or error on either part(patient or receptionist) as at the end of the day there appears to be no confusion as to whether you were in receipt of any benefit. It is incumbent on the patient to pay any fees due just as you would pay at a supermarket check-out, where you are in receipt of goods or services. May I also point out that the form you signed is a statutory legal obligation which must be disclosed by us the the NHS upon request. There is currently a no if’s no butt’s campaign by the NHS to recover lost fees and we would ask you to bear this in mind when receiving treatment from ' The error is clearly on the receptionist at the time who failed to update the system to show I was no longer on the dole, if the system had been updated when I had told them this would not have happened, the practice manager is fobbing me off, what can i do ?

Hi I have recently joined an NHS dental practice and have had an initial examination at a cost of £18.50, on the day a second appointment was made to have a filling done the following week the next day I realised that I couldn't make that appointment due to other commitments and rang to re-arrange for around two weeks afterwards, at which point I was told I could but it would be classed as a second treatment and that I would be charged £50.50, I'm unsure if the receptionist understood fully what I was getting at and so I have asked them to clarify what they mean in writing. The letter I intend to send tomorrow please feel free to point out any errors... Document dental surgery staff member referred to me too: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/DentalServices/4717.aspx

This is very worrying ? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-30005682

Can anyone help me please, i was at the Dentist the other day for my check up. i had to have a tooth ground has it was very sharp and was cutting my tongue also the Dentist told me that my crown was in need of replacing has it had gone thin, I have had this Gold crown for over 10 years. I get free Dental work due to Disability benefits and wondered if they would replace my gold crown with another gold crown or not. when i first had it done I was working and paid I think over £200 for it. The tooth that I had to have ground down has a filling in it that has made the tooth look black and its on the side 2 teeth from the front. the Dentist said he could change the filling to a white one for £70, or should this be free also.T hank you for any info. pin62

The price of NHS prescriptions is to rise by 20p in April and again next year. NHS dental charges will also increase by up to £5 from 1 April. In a statement, Health Minister Norman Lamb said the increases were justified given the increasing demands on the NHS, with spending on medicines alone almost doubling since 2000. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have scrapped all prescription charges. Around 90% of prescriptions in England are currently dispensed free of charge. There are exemptions for people on low incomes, children and the over 60s. The current prescription charge is £7.85. Dental charges will also increase. As of April 2014, the charge payable for a band one course of treatment will increase by 50p from £18 to £18.50. The dental charge for a band 2 course of treatment will increase by £1.50 from £49 to £50.50. The charge for a band 3 course of treatment will increase by £5 from £214 to £219. The cost of prescription prepayment certificates - 'season tickets' that can be bought to cover prescription costs for three or 12 months - will remain unchanged at £29.10 and £104, respectively. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26529262

Hi all I went to the Dentist last week for the first time in a while, I had a checkup because its a new dentist, and I was told i had some tooth decay on my rightmost back molar. The dentist was foreign and he spoke so quickly, I honestly couldn't understand him half the time and I'm not used to going to the dentist, never having had a filling or anything like that. Anyway I didn't really understand my options so just went for the filling, not realising I can get a silver one from free on NHS because I am on ESA due to mental health issues. I signed their forms and arranged the appointment for Friday, but now I'm thinking I want to back out because I can't afford it and didn't fully understand it, I get confused at times you see. But before I left she said I had to put in a £50 deposit for this treatment, not really understanding this, I put my card in a paid the £50... But now if I don't have the treatment, will I get my £50 back? Any help appreciated, I haven't spoken to the dentist yet and wanted to go in will all the facts first so I know what I am doing, otherwise I will get anxious and flustered and probably get it all wrong

Hi, I have no idea what section this would come under. I'm really hoping someone can give me some advice with this. My husband and myself are registered with a private dentist - that also sees our children (both under 16 and in full time education) On our last check up the dentist said my daughter needed specialist treatment and there were absesses forming along the top of her front teeth and she needed to see a endodontist (? think that's the name he said). He said this work was not carried out by NHS and the only way we could have it was private - and pay! We were presented with a written £400 bill. This was increased to £500 on the first appointment I have since looked up the treatment he said she needed and it is basic root canal work- which is done routinely on the NHS. My question is should he have referred us to the NHS dentist for this work to be carried out due to her age? Any help or advice on this would be really welcome

hi, popped into local NHS dentist to ask if i could get treated / check up and if it would cost me, they said it would be for free as i was on ESA, so they asked for proof, i took esa proof, they signed me up, then i had some treatment, over 2 visits, at no charge. Few weeks later recieved letter from nhs, routine check unable, so please send proof of esa and fill in questionnaire. totally forgot about this, was going to go to dentist to sort it out. then i get another letter from nhs, ie pentalty charge notice and fine, totalling a sum of over £300! if dont pay, debt recovery, county court, more charges. So i go to my dentist with my paperwork, they say if im on esa its fine, there should be no costs and thats its between me and the nhs as dentist did not charge me, so i need to proov to them now. So im now so stressed and already got mental health problems and awaiting urgent psychiatrist help and on some strong medication...i dont how to deal with this. I cant afford this cost, i only went to dentist as they said it was free to me. looking at my esa paperwork and nhs letters, i think it might be to do with income based esa or contribution based. around the same time of dental treatment i was switched from one to another, i believe from contribution to income, but the switch over date was just after dental treatment, but surely the dentist would have checked this? i took some ESA paperwork with me to dentist and they inspected it and gave me the go ahead for free treatment. the dentist has assured me, all esa claiments do not have to pay, twice now. do i need to go to cab? debt advisor? i dont know how to deal with this. i simply can not afford this Fee, i am in debt and cant even afford rent and food, im overdrawn, and on esa, unfit to work, no savings. can anyone advise please? thankyou