I would tend to agree Midas, as you say the NHS ought not be treated with disdain. Means testing might be neccesary though :P

Though I agree, what happens if the NHS miss my appointment??

Originally Posted by Liberal Authoritarian

Though I agree, what happens if the NHS miss my appointment??

Not really with you LA. How often do you make an appointment with someone from the NHS and they don't show up? Even if that was the case, I suspect that a 'no show' because a doctor or a nurse is busy attending some emergency would probably considered a fair reason.

Originally Posted by Midas

Not really with you LA. How often do you make an appointment with someone from the NHS and they don't show up? Even if that was the case, I suspect that a 'no show' because a doctor or a nurse is busy attending some emergency would probably considered a fair reason.

I have been to the dentist at times.
I have been delayed by up to 40 minutes at times. Even when the dentist is not seeing anyone.

If I was that late, I would miss my appointment and would be "charged" under your view. They have wasted my valuable time. Can I charge them?

Originally Posted by Liberal Authoritarian

I have been to the dentist at times.
I have been delayed by up to 40 minutes at times. Even when the dentist is not seeing anyone.

If I was that late, I would miss my appointment and would be "charged" under your view. They have wasted my valuable time. Can I charge them?

Perhaps you don't realise how imprecise the calculation of appointment times can be within the medical profession - any profession really. You know for an absolute fact that your dentist wasn't seeing anyone or doing anything important for those 40 minutes do you? He was just sitting twiddling his thumbs and thinking "I'll make LA wait for 40 minutes"? Would you have had the same view if most of that time was clearing up after a previous patient who was suspected of having had AIDS for example, or if it was you in the chair at some point earlier in the day and your dentist suddenly decided to stop what he was doing and kick you out with emergency work unfinished in case his time allocation per patient ran over, possibly delaying someone else 40 minutes later on in the day?

Originally Posted by Midas

Perhaps you don't realise how imprecise the calculation of appointment times can be within the medical profession - any profession really. You know for an absolute fact that your dentist wasn't seeing anyone or doing anything important for those 40 minutes do you? He was just sitting twiddling his thumbs and thinking "I'll make LA wait for 40 minutes"? Would you have had the same view if most of that time was clearing up after a previous patient who was suspected of having had AIDS for example, or if it was you in the chair at some point earlier in the day and your dentist suddenly decided to stop what he was doing and kick you out with emergency work unfinished in case his time allocation per patient ran over, possibly delaying someone else 40 minutes later on in the day?

His door was open. I could see everything he was doing. Which revolved around nothing and drinking tea, and talking about the radio to his assistant; whom was also doing nothing but drinking tea... or maybe coffee... I dunno is that pushing the boat?

That's why it annoyed me.

If they were doing something useful, I would have had no problems with waiting. But the point was, they were doing nothing!

Originally Posted by Liberal Authoritarian

His door was open. I could see everything he was doing. Which revolved around nothing and drinking tea, and talking about the radio to his assistant; whom was also doing nothing but drinking tea... or maybe coffee... I dunno is that pushing the boat?

That's why it annoyed me.

If they were doing something useful, I would have had no problems with waiting. But the point was, they were doing nothing!

Come on LA, what you were watching was the dentist and the assistant having a tea break. When I visit my dentist I know exactly what time she goes for a break because I see her making her way with her assistant to their rest room. I have a feeling your dentist hasn't the luxury of a rest room. I think that appointments should be suspended for that period but it's no big deal.

Originally Posted by Expounder

Come on LA, what you were watching was the dentist and the assistant having a tea break. When I visit my dentist I know exactly what time she goes for a break because I see her making her way with her assistant to their rest room. I have a feeling your dentist hasn't the luxury of a rest room. I think that appointments should be suspended for that period but it's no big deal.

When i go to my Dentist there is never a wait, he does his job, gets paid and gets on with the next patient if he has one, he dosnt throw a tea party halfway through a procedure nor does he make his (paying)customers wait.There is one difference between the NHS and a proper healthcare system, customer service although the NHS dosnt recognise us as customers, we are "service users" implying that customers are not paying, they are just "users"(also an embuggerance to the staff whose easy job would be easier if the bloody users would stay home).Typical arrogance of NHS workers.

Originally Posted by pauli007001

When i go to my Dentist there is never a wait, he does his job, gets paid and gets on with the next patient if he has one, he dosnt throw a tea party halfway through a procedure nor does he make his (paying)customers wait.There is one difference between the NHS and a proper healthcare system, customer service although the NHS dosnt recognise us as customers, we are "service users" implying that customers are not paying, they are just "users"(also an embuggerance to the staff whose easy job would be easier if the bloody users would stay home).Typical arrogance of NHS workers.

Are you saying that all American dentists go through the day without a break?

Dentists like any other professional are entitled to a break. what most do is not book any one in for that period. I think LA and yourself are reducing the debate to nit picking.

Anyway people not on social benefit pay 80% of the full price of dental treatment and dentists have the option of dealing with paying patients only.

I have brother-in-law who needed a tooth capped ten years ago and decided to go private,he was charged £400, Christ knows what that same dentist would charge today . The same procedure with an NHS dentist currently costs Just under £200.If two or more teeth need capping at the same time, it's the same price.

Dentistry is the type of profession if all went private it would be a licence to print money. This is one part of the NHS which is, [sorry for the pun] is hanging on by the skin of it's teeth to a watered down version of the NHS which was diluted the old hag Thatcher in her mad cap privatisation days.

If Cameron is elected his promise to ring fence the NHS for the first year is a sure indication that he is going to pursue Thatcher's privatisation policy after that. Cuts and more cuts in the name of ideology will result in more deaths, but why should the "caring" Millionaire Tories worry?

Originally Posted by Expounder

I have brother-in-law who needed a tooth capped ten years ago and decided to go private,he was charged £400, Christ knows what that same dentist would charge today . The same procedure with an NHS dentist currently costs Just under £200.If two or more teeth need capping at the same time, it's the same price.

I had to go for a check-up the other day and coincidentally happened to notice the price in my own dental surgery (they don't carry out any NHS work) and porcelain crowns are from £495 depending on the complexity of the work.

Originally Posted by Expounder

Come on LA, what you were watching was the dentist and the assistant having a tea break. When I visit my dentist I know exactly what time she goes for a break because I see her making her way with her assistant to their rest room. I have a feeling your dentist hasn't the luxury of a rest room. I think that appointments should be suspended for that period but it's no big deal.

Tea break is fine.
If they need a break they deserve one.

But don't bloody give me an appointment time during their break!

[I preferred private dentistry]

Originally Posted by Midas

I had to go for a check-up the other day and coincidentally happened to notice the price in my own dental surgery (they don't carry out any NHS work) and porcelain crowns are from £495 depending on the complexity of the work.

Midas, register with an NHS dentist, the work they do is just good if not better why pay exorbitant rates to rip off merchants. Some of them are chancers from abroad with questionable credentials out to make a fast buck, some even infiltrate the NHS, but at leastin this case there is a come back.

Originally Posted by Liberal Authoritarian

Tea break is fine.
If they need a break they deserve one.

But don't bloody give me an appointment time during their break!

[I preferred private dentistry]

Read my last post in reply to Midas.....................................

Originally Posted by Expounder

Are you saying that all American dentists go through the day without a break?

Dentists like any other professional are entitled to a break. what most do is not book any one in for that period. I think LA and yourself are reducing the debate to nit picking.

Anyway people not on social benefit pay 80% of the full price of dental treatment and dentists have the option of dealing with paying patients only.

I have brother-in-law who needed a tooth capped ten years ago and decided to go private,he was charged £400, Christ knows what that same dentist would charge today . The same procedure with an NHS dentist currently costs Just under £200.If two or more teeth need capping at the same time, it's the same price.

Dentistry is the type of profession if all went private it would be a licence to print money. This is one part of the NHS which is, [sorry for the pun] is hanging on by the skin of it's teeth to a watered down version of the NHS which was diluted the old hag Thatcher in her mad cap privatisation days.

If Cameron is elected his promise to ring fence the NHS for the first year is a sure indication that he is going to pursue Thatcher's privatisation policy after that. Cuts and more cuts in the name of ideology will result in more deaths, but why should the "caring" Millionaire Tories worry?

Im not saying that US dentist go without a break, they are smart and dont over book, that way all patients are seen and all patients pay for the care they get, i do pay $55 for a dental visit for 1 full hour, this includes a check up and cleaning/polishing.
Under an NHS dentist(i wouldnt be covered so would require dental insurance or pay at point of treatment), actually a private dentist paid occasionally by the NHS, it would cost around 75 quid for the same standard of care, and then the cleanin/polishing would be done by a Hygenist not th dentist, better care for less, again and no waiting!!!!

Originally Posted by pauli007001

Im not saying that US dentist go without a break, they are smart and dont over book, that way all patients are seen and all patients pay for the care they get, i do pay $55 for a dental visit for 1 full hour, this includes a check up and cleaning/polishing.
Under an NHS dentist(i wouldnt be covered so would require dental insurance or pay at point of treatment), actually a private dentist paid occasionally by the NHS, it would cost around 75 quid for the same standard of care, and then the cleanin/polishing would be done by a Hygenist not th dentist, better care for less, again and no waiting!!!!

You're there for a whole hour and you only pay $55? At that rate a dentist billing 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year would only earn $105,600 a year gross, I find that very hard to believe Pauli. As a matter of interest, and this isn't a defence of the NHS by the way, dental charges here are banded at either £16.50, £45.60 or £198. Details available from here.

Originally Posted by Expounder

Midas, register with an NHS dentist, the work they do is just good if not better why pay exorbitant rates to rip off merchants. Some of them are chancers from abroad with questionable credentials out to make a fast buck, some even infiltrate the NHS, but at leastin this case there is a come back.

Thanks for the comment Exp, and I appreciate what you're saying, but my dental cover is part of a worldwide health insurance policy, so that wherever I am in the world and whatever treatment I might need, from a filling to a heart transplant, I have immediate access to the local private medical services, the specialists from which will already have been vetted by the insurance company.