Keeping your NHS status at our practice
Due to the high number of patients wishing to receive NHS dental treatment and the very long waiting lists, we have no choice but to remove from our lists patients who have not attended for two years or more and who had failed to attend their appointments twice or cancelled at short notice twice within a year in line with our appointment cancellation and failed to attend policy.
In our practice, we try to remind our patients when they are due for their dental examinations via text message and emails. However, we often find that many of our communications get returned as patients do not update their details with us.
What do you need to do to keep your registration?
• Always attend any appointment booked or cancel the appointment more than 24 hours in advance.
• Make sure you book your next dental examination before you leave the practice. Whether it’s three, six, nine or even twelve months in advance, our reception team will help you make your next appointment and send you reminders nearer the time as well.
• Check and update your contact details. Be sure they are correct, especially your email address and mobile phone, if you have one. If we can keep in touch with you, then we can help you keep on track, so you don’t miss your appointment.
If you have not booked an appointment, please contact the practice to make an appointment at your earliest convenience.
Once you have been de-registered, you are no longer able to receive NHS treatment at the practice. If you want to receive NHS treatment again, you will need to join our waiting list. As our NHS waiting list is quite long, it may be some time before you can be seen under the NHS. So, our recommendation is that you protect your registered status.
Remember:
Our recommendation is that you protect your registered status by attending your appointments and booking your next appointment before you leave the practice.
Check list for staying on the NHS dental register:
• attend all your appointments or cancel well in advance.
• always book your next appointment before you leave the surgery.
• keep your contact details up to date.
• make sure you visit your dentist regularly (and don’t leave it for longer than two years!)
Date: Nov 2021
Review date: Jan 2023, Jan 2024
Cancelling or rescheduling appointments
Appointment cancellation & Failed to Attend policy
To ensure the smooth running of our practice, Patients are requested to give as much notice as possible if they need to cancel/reschedule their appointments (a minimum of 24hrs notice, 48hrs if the appointment is for 30mins or longer).
Please be aware that if two or more appointments are cancelled with less than 24hrs notice or failed to attend the appointment without notice , then further appointments might not be offered at the practice. We might ask you for a pre-payment for future appointments and the full amount will be retained if you miss your appointment or if you cancel with less than 24hrs notice.
The fee for the full appointment shall be charged for missed or short notice cancellation of private appointments.
Date: Jan 17
Review date: Jan 18, Jan 2019, Feb 2020, Jan 2021, Jan 2022, Jan 2023, Jan 2024