30
LIVING
Removed from
lists?
Know your rights!
NHS dentists are not able to refuse
to treat or remove you from their
lists unless they have a good reason
based on abusive or anti-social
behavior towards them*. If you are
not happy with the service on offer,
you are entitled to complain, and
this should not affect treatment you
are receiving. You first need to raise
concerns with the dental practice in
question and give them a chance to
put things right or at least address
the complaint.
If that doesn't resolve things, you
have several options depending on
where you live. See links below for
help finding a dentist and potential
costs.
What does it cost?
Scotland: www.scottishdental.org/public/treatment-charges/
Wales: www.gov.wales/nhs-dental-charges
England: www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists
How to find a dentist?
Northern Ireland www.hscbusiness.hscni.net/findadentist
Wales: www.wales.nhs.uk/findannhsdentist
England: www.nhs.uk/find-a-dentist
Scotland: www.nhsinform.scot/findadentist
Further support and resources:
The Patients Association: A support group for anyone trying to access healthrelated
services in general. Their website contains useful information related
to dentists. It runs a free advice line: 0800-345-7115 (weekdays 9:30am - 5pm).
www.patients-association.org.uk/you-and-your-dentist
Diabetes UK: For specialist information and advice on all aspects of living with
diabetes. Detailed information on its website and there's a helpline (0345-123-
2399) to call for answers, support or just to talk to someone who knows about
diabetes (weekdays 9am to 6pm).
www.diabetes.org.uk
* There are no hard and fast rules
governing NHS dentists regarding
keeping patients on their lists;
it stems from them being freelancers
and working for the NHS
on a contracted basis. Some have
gone private, so your choice is to
stay and pay, or go elsewhere (if
you can). Many have introduced
their own policy of de-listing
people who they haven't seen for
two years; they are not obliged to
keep/take anyone on. Although
the NHS has a responsibility to
provide a limited no of procedures
on NHS it can't oblige NHS
dentists to do anything and the
NHS can often only provide a list
of available dentists and point
you in their direction. Emergency
services should still function.