Originally Posted by BlueScottyGirl (Post 13163027)

Hello fellow returnees. We're moving back to the UK after a few years of travelling adventures. Along the way our children have decided to stay in various countries so it's just myself and Mr Blue. This left us with pretty much the entire UK to consider as we don't have to think about schools etc. We've decided we would like to live in Buckinghamshire and be commutable to London and so far everything is looking great.
I can't seem to find out much about the healthcare though, I'm sure there used to be a chart or something that showed the wait times etc. for each region. I know there is turmoil at the moment but generally, I'd be hoping to be able to see a doctor or dentist quickly and not have to wait too long if I need a hospital appointment. Does anyone know the situation in Buckinghamshire, particularly around Milton Keynes?
Thanks in advance for any info.

Originally Posted by BlueScottyGirl (Post 13163027)

Hello fellow returnees. We're moving back to the UK after a few years of travelling adventures. Along the way our children have decided to stay in various countries so it's just myself and Mr Blue. This left us with pretty much the entire UK to consider as we don't have to think about schools etc. We've decided we would like to live in Buckinghamshire and be commutable to London and so far everything is looking great.
I can't seem to find out much about the healthcare though, I'm sure there used to be a chart or something that showed the wait times etc. for each region. I know there is turmoil at the moment but generally, I'd be hoping to be able to see a doctor or dentist quickly and not have to wait too long if I need a hospital appointment. Does anyone know the situation in Buckinghamshire, particularly around Milton Keynes?
Thanks in advance for any info.

Originally Posted by tdrinker (Post 13163050)

One thing about NHS dentists, in the unlikely event you can find one, is that they don't do everything, e.g. they will provide an amalgam (silver) filling but not a white filling, which is only available privately.

Originally Posted by tdrinker (Post 13163096)

I'm surprised the attachment says the NHS do tooth-coloured fillings as my experience a year ago was an NHS dentist offering an amalgam (silver) filling at NHS rates or a tooth-coloured (white) filling privately (from memory, I paid around £150). I've yet to find an NHS dentist in my current location.

Originally Posted by christmasoompa (Post 13163093)

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-que...rowns-made-of/

Plenty of NHS dentist availability where I am, ours is always advertising for new NHS patients, but I'm in Berkshire so no idea what the situation in Bucks is like.

HTH.

Originally Posted by tdrinker (Post 13163096)

I'm surprised the attachment says the NHS do tooth-coloured fillings as my experience a year ago was an NHS dentist offering an amalgam (silver) filling at NHS rates or a tooth-coloured (white) filling privately (from memory, I paid around £150). I've yet to find an NHS dentist in my current location.

Originally Posted by BristolUK (Post 13163127)

I think this illustrates the difference between what may be and what is.
So 'white' is possible and if you, as an NHS patient, have a friendly dentist, they may make a case for "clinically necessary" and you get lucky. If you are not an NHS patient at the practice (or you are but your dentist tells you it's not 'really' clinically necessary) your dentist makes more money from your decision to go the private route.

Some Bracknell News research published in June 2022 says that of 100 Berkshire dental practices analysed, fewer than 15 were taking NHS patients without a referral. So that's already more than 80% that won't even take you as an NHS patient and doesn't even take account of how many of the rest will "be nice" about the white filling.

It's a good idea to remember why North Americans have traditionally laughed at British teeth. Not because treatment was poor, but because a lot of 'cosmetic' (but normal for North America) was not clinically necessary in the UK.

There are plenty of reports that suggest that while dentists will take on NHS patients, those are only the patients with a current exemption from NHS charges rather than those looking to avoid being on the hook for more expensive private costs.

Originally Posted by BlueScottyGirl (Post 13163027)

Does anyone know the situation in Buckinghamshire, particularly around Milton Keynes?

Originally Posted by christmasoompa (Post 13163145)

I don't live near Bracknell so no idea about the situation there, but if 15 out of 100 in just that town will take new NHS patients, seems the situation there is ok too.

Originally Posted by BristolUK (Post 13163161)

It's not 15 in that town taking NHS patients it's 15 out of 100 across the county. Or 85% not taking NHS patients.

Originally Posted by christmasoompa (Post 13163165)

...fingers crossed more people that do live in the UK (and hopefully Bucks) will be able to help with OP with their experiences.

Originally Posted by tdrinker (Post 13163096)

I'm surprised the attachment says the NHS do tooth-coloured fillings as my experience a year ago was an NHS dentist offering an amalgam (silver) filling at NHS rates or a tooth-coloured (white) filling privately (from memory, I paid around £150). I've yet to find an NHS dentist in my current location.