Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Oh B*llocks!!!!

I got a letter from the dentist today saying I had missed an appointment. One I didn't know I had. They send texts out as reminders, without which I'd never remember.I didn't receive one. They say they sent one. I am to pay a fine for not turning up.

What really irks me is that I am supposed to receive free treatment and yet I have had to pay for all the treatment I had have had so far because the dentist hasn't done any of it but got the hygienist to do it. Hygienists do not come under the NHS, thus I pay. If it were not for John, I'd have had to forego the treatment. This just doesn't seem right to me.

4 comments:

Bo... said...

My dental care is at a free clinic here---yet I still hate to go! But at that clinic there's no "frills"....like a prescription for pain medication for afterwards. That's one of the reasons I'm frightened to go because I worry that if there's pain afterward, that ibuprofen won't be strong enough. I know, I know...I should just BITE THE BULLET and GO! Anyway, good luck---

knitwych said...

I would challenge them to provide proof that they sent the text. If they sent it, and you didn't receive it, could you complain to your service carrier? Seems to me that if you are paying for text service and the texts aren't being received, you're due a refund or a credit or something. I don't know how medical offices are in the UK, but here in the US, it's been my experience that they can be pretty slack about things - and then charge you for their mistakes or failures. If I were you, I would definitely fight this charge and demand that they provide concrete evidence that they sent the text. Sending out texts to remind people of appointments seems odd to me anyway. If that's the notice format you chose, then fine. But if that's just their policy, then I wonder what they do for people who don't have text phones or email.

Anonymous said...

What a b....Y cheek!
Perhaps telling them that you've sussed them out (in your firm voice!) might make them withdraw the charge.
marilyn x

Anonymous said...

Well, that's one way to make the socialized medicine model work, isn't it? Shove the actual work off on those whose services isn't covered. That's really bad. Citizens unite!

I'm not having a good day. I'm getting angry at all governments.