NHS services in each region
#1
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 175
NHS services in each region
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.
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.
#2
Re: NHS services in each region
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.
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.
#3
Re: NHS services in each region
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.
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.
https://waitingtimes.mkuh.nhs.uk/ApwtOpDatum
https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/...tments-3931647
#4
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 523
Re: NHS services in each region
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.
This might help with NHS waiting times. Note that not only do they vary by NHS trust / hospital, but by treatment, so one location might have a long waiting list for one treatment and a short waiting list for another.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hosp...es-in-england/
This might help with NHS waiting times. Note that not only do they vary by NHS trust / hospital, but by treatment, so one location might have a long waiting list for one treatment and a short waiting list for another.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hosp...es-in-england/
#5
Re: NHS services in each region
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.
#6
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 523
Re: NHS services in each region
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.
#7
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Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,128
Re: NHS services in each region
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.
#8
Re: NHS services in each region
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.
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.
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.
Your dentist will offer you the type of filling they consider clinically necessary...If you need a filling for one of your front teeth, your dentist may suggest a tooth-coloured (white) filling.
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.
Last edited by BristolUK; Jan 3rd 2023 at 1:56 pm.
#9
Re: NHS services in each region
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.
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.
My husband and I both have white fillings done on the NHS, both in back teeth. Not 'clinically necessary' and no argument needed to be made, we were given the choice. But I was simply correcting the assertion that a white filling 'is only available privately', as that's not correct any longer.
HTH.
#10
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 523
Re: NHS services in each region
#11
Re: NHS services in each region
The Bracknell News analysed nearly 100 records for practices across Berkshire
My husband and I both have white fillings done on the NHS, both in back teeth. Not 'clinically necessary' and no argument needed to be made, we were given the choice. But I was simply correcting the assertion that a white filling 'is only available privately', as that's not correct any longer.
Healthwatch confirms patients are having to wait anywhere between a few months to three years to get an NHS dental appointment and that difficulties getting NHS appointments have led to some patients feeling pressured to pay for private care.
In some cases, patients are opting to perform dental procedures on themselves.
- His regular practice with whom he was registered said it had removed him from its lists as he had not seen them for 18 months."I did call 12 to 15 other practices to see whether they were taking on new NHS patients," he says, "and absolutely none of them said they were." Neither could they recommend anywhere I could contact to try to register."I've had to buy a home filling kit in an attempt to do it myself.
- Sharrow Dental Care in Chelmsford has seen more than 11,000 emergency case patients since March 2020. According to the practice's clinical director Tony Clough, people have called them from as far afield as Newcastle and Edinburgh.
For the OP, here's a Healthwatch report on Bucks.
#12
Re: NHS services in each region
OK, so 15% that are taking them, and it's not a big county. I'm sure it's crap in some places, but it's also fine in others including mine, fingers crossed more people that do live in the UK (and hopefully Bucks) will be able to help with OP with their experiences.
#13
Re: NHS services in each region
Until they present themselves the news reports and Healthwatch UK studies of people who do live in the UK including Bucks, like those in the links I provided, will have to do.
#14
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 175
Re: NHS services in each region
Thank you for all your comments and thoughts. The info about dentists was interesting as I had forgotten a lot about dentists, particularly the need to go private for most, if not all, treatments. We're used to paying dental fees though so that will hopefully not come as too much of a shock.
Thanks too for the various links which I'll go through. old.sparkles, that is the information I was looking for regarding wait times :-)
Thanks too for the various links which I'll go through. old.sparkles, that is the information I was looking for regarding wait times :-)
#15
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Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,211
Re: NHS services in each region
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.