West Auckland Dental Practice New Patient Acceptance Policy

Thank you for wanting to join our practice here in West Auckland.  We would like to set out for you in writing details of what we would expect from a new patient and hopefully inform you of what we offer which will form a framework for both our and your expectations of what service you can expect from us.   

Here at West Auckland Dental Practice we offer all treatment that is necessary in your dentist’s opinion to protect and maintain good oral health is available on the NHS. If you want to have any cosmetic dental treatment, such as tooth whitening, this will be done privately. You should ask your dentist how much this will cost in addition to charges for NHS treatment.

Emergency patients: Every day slots are kept free for dental emergencies and are filled on a first come first served basis.  Trauma patients are seen mostly the same day and adult trauma patients will usually be offered a time slot and children are usually asked to be brought down straight away.

What your NHS dentist should do:

Your NHS dentist should:

1. Carry out a thorough examination of your mouth, teeth and gums.
2. Explain your treatment options and tell you what treatment can be done under the NHS, and what other work can be done privately if you wish.
3. Make sure you know how much your NHS treatment and any private treatment will cost.
4. Provide you with a written treatment plan before carrying out any dental treatment, to confirm the details and costs of the NHS treatment and any private work.
5. Display a poster about NHS charges
6. Discuss with you how often you need to attend for a dental check-up.

What you should do:

As a patient, you are advised to:

1. Give your dentist as much notice as possible if you have to cancel or change an appointment. (The minimum is 24 hours otherwise this will then be marked as a late cancel).
2. Ask for a written treatment plan for any treatment if you are not given one.
3. Ask questions if there is something you don’t understand.
4. Pay your treatment bills promptly.
5. Follow your dentist’s advice on how to avoid tooth decay and gum disease

We are:

2024. Not currently accepting new NHS Patients and only seeing patients who have attended in the last 2 years so currently from 2022 onwards on a rolling month basis. This will be commenced on the 1^st November 2024.
2025. This means the practice is not taking new patients for treatment under the NHS contract.
2026. Failed Appointments – The practice policy is that if you fail your new patient examination you will automatically be de-registered without notice. The practice operates a text reminder service, approximately 2 days prior to your appointment you will receive a reminder, please make sure you keep us informed should you change your mobile number. This is just a courtesy service and we would appreciate it if patients can make a note of their appointment when booking,

If you fail two consecutive NHS appointments within a course of treatment we reserve the right to close the treatment plan, but may be able to offer you private care only treatment. If a course of treatment is not open and you fail two consecutive appointments for a check-up we reserve the right not to offer a further NHS appointment. If you DNA an appointment and have further appointments booked these will be automatically cancelled. For clarification a late cancel (same day) is classed as a DNA.  If you have missed 3 or more appointments in a 6 month period whether these are consecutive or not we reserve the right not to offer further NHS appointments, you are able to cancel appointments if not suitable but you must give a minimum notice of 24 hours.If you DNA for a treatment appointment we will send you a letter asking you to make sure you follow procedure for further appointments if you then  subsequently DNA for the next treatment appointment we will send you a letter advising you that we are unable to offer you further NHS appointments here. If you are a new private patient and do not attend then the £45 deposit is taken as a charge for this lost appointment. For private patients it is normal to ask for a deposit for any further treatment and this should be paid when booking the next appointment.  If the appointment is subsequently missed then this payment will be forfeited. If you cancel 3 consecutive appointments and do not allow us to complete the treatment in a reasonable timescale we reserve the right to close the treatment plan. The cost for our NHS treatment will be whatever the current government bands are and the cost of private treatment is £90 for an initial check-up.  We also offer our own private plan starting from £16.70 per month.

The practice opening hours are: Monday – Thursday 9.00.am. Until 5.30p.m. And Friday 9.0a.m. Until 5.00p.m.  We close everyday between 1.00p.m. And 2.00p.m. For lunch.

When the practice closed and you require urgent care please telephone 111.

Our facilities cater for:-

• Access for wheelchair users
• Accessible toilet
• Baby change facilities
• Interpreter services
• Same day emergencies and urgent dental appointments
• Referral for specialist needs

Once again we welcome you to West Auckland Dental Practice.

Nov 24 policy reviewed Fran Brown next review November 25 in line with other policies unless circumstances dictate sooner.