In the Plymouth practice, we’re painfully aware of gaps in our busy day. No-show NHS patients give us a break, but it’s not a welcome break. It means that someone who would really benefit from seeing a dentist misses an opportunity. And a skilled professional, one of our dentists, therapists or hygienists, is wasting time.
We don’t want to complain, but…
“Busy practice, lovely staff.
The staff were fantastic and worked really hard. It’s a shame that I was there paying for my treatment when so many NHS patients didn’t turn up for their appointments. I would have loved to have taken their place! I think the practice could do with being firmer with the no-show patients to enable room for others who are in need of NHS treatment (not necessarily just myself!).”
What happens to no-show NHS patients?
- Failed appointments add up to hours of wasted time.
- Look after your NHS registration.
No-show patients risk losing their NHS registration with the practice. A bit like in a Monopoly game, it means going back to the start.
If you fail to attend or cancel at late notice 3 appointments in a year, you will lose your NHS dental registration with us.
Once you’re deregistered from one practice, you have to re-register on the NHS waiting list and wait for another practice to accept you. In our region, the wait can be as long as two years.
Please value your NHS registration.
- Our reviews on NHS Choices are a great reminder of what a valuable NHS service we offer our patients.
Out of courtesy, and to try to protect our clinicians time, we send reminders to patients about their appointments. We also follow up on missed appointments to try to find out what happened. We kindly ask our patients to take responsibility too.
- Patients should give at least 24 hours notice to cancel a dental appointment.
- To make a cancellation, it’s easy to contact us:
- by telephone on: 01752 663870
- or by email to: plymouth@spadental.co.uk
- If a patient misses three NHS dental appointments, or cancels with less than 24 hours notice, the patient may be de-registered. We do not guarantee being able to complete a patient’s NHS treatment, or further NHS treatment in the future.
- If you lose your NHS registration with SpaDental Plymouth, you will have to register on the NHS Plymouth waiting list for an alternative practice.
- We aim to telephone or write to patients after a missed appointment. We do so to understand the reason for your non-attendance and also to inform you of your registration status.
- Any appeals about decisions relating to missed or cancelled appointments should be made in writing to the Practice Manager.
We believe your children are important!
We want the children of today to have healthy teeth for life.
Children deserve the best dental care, and can be registered at SpaDental Plymouth without having to join the waiting list.