Being Charged Twice for one Dental Treatment?

[Carl_B]

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

 

Quote

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

I recently became a patient of your dental surgery and attended my first appointment on Tuesday 11th November after I was examined it was determined that I had some decay in one of my upper teeth and that I required a filling.

 

Directly following my first appointment another was made for the following week Tuesday 18th November to have this work completed, since then I have become aware of other commitments

 

I phoned the following day Wednesday 12th November and spoke to a member of staff to enquire whether it would be possible to move my appointment for treatment to sometime at the beginning of December. At this time I was told that this would be possible however it would be classed as a second course of treatment which I inferred to mean a payment of £50.50, not including my original payment of £18.50 (my first treatment)

 

I have since spoken to NHS England twice after my initial call and I was told that this was incorrect and I had two months from my first appointment to undergo treatment, after this I phoned your surgery back and was informed that NHS England were incorrect and that I should read “Urgent courses of treatment within two months” which was located on the NHS Business Services Authority Website,

 

having read this document I then contacted NHS England a further time and discussed this with them and they again reiterated that they were correct and did not understand why this document was being referred to as it was specifically written concerning emergency appointments which my treatment was not and that I should only be charged for my initial appointment at £18.50 and then the difference between this and my second appointment £50.50, a total of no more than £32.00

 

I have since also contacted NHS Dental Services using the contact details on the NHS Business Services Authority website who also reiterated the information given by NHS England and where concerned that I was being asked to pay a total of two NHS Banding’s for one treatment.

 

Please can you clarify this in writing as I am unsure if perhaps I was misunderstood by the member of staff concerned or if I have misunderstood something myself.

 

Many thanks and apologies for any inconvenience caused,

Edited February 9, 2022 by dx100uk
block of text spaced to paragraphs

[citizenB]

Please do let us know what the Dentist has to say about this. It does sound as though they have either misunderstood or are being deliberately obtuse !

[Carl_B]

Thanks CitizenB

 

I was gob smacked when the member of staff on the phone said that it would be classed as a separate treatment, it's utter clap trap, she said that they couldn't keep files open and that they had to send the claim form off to the NHS around the date of my appointment,

 

they "had too" of course as my letter says both NHS England and the NHS Dental Service agreed with me and were astounded that I was being asked to pay for two NHS banding's for one treatment within 2 months especially as there was a direct correlation between the first and second appointment,  after all the second appointment was only needed due to something found in the first!

[SabreSheep]

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/dentists/Pages/nhs-dental-charges.aspx

 

I think there is potentially a misunderstanding here.

 

A fillign would be BAND 2 treatment which is £50.50

BAND 2 would INCLUDE your initial examination

 

Therefore you should be asked to pay the TOP UP to £50.50 from £18.50 so I make that £32.00

[Carl_B]

I hope so however I was told at my first appointment exactly what you have said above however when phoning to change the appointment today the member of staff started spouting on about it being counted as a second treatment and not part of the first because of the amount of time between my initial examination and my filling being done

 

I've also just emailed NHS England anyway as they also stated on the day of my first examination that there would be a £10 fee to remove the one remaining metal appliance from an old brace from a few years ago (long story all my fault etc.) however I have asked NHS England to clarify whether this should be included in the NHS Band 1 under "adjusting dentures (false teeth) or orthodontic appliances, such as braces "

 

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/nhs-dental-band-charges.aspx?CategoryID=74&SubCategoryID=742

[Carl_B]

Well I received a reply from NHS England this morning confirming my suspicions about this £10 charge and I have been told that removing the old bracket is already included in the NHS band 1 charge of £18.50.

[Carl_B]

It's been just over a week now and I haven't received any communication from the dental practice, should I send another letter? or phone them (I have a call recorder on my mobile)

[silverfox1961]

Hi

So long as the call gets recorded, I can see no issue in phoning.