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Taking Dentist to court over poor care whilst a child under the NHS
Hello, This is quite long, and I am sure not many of you will have time to trawl through it all, so I will try and summarise it, and anyone with the time, can feel free to see the letter I wrote to my PCT.
In a nutshell,
I am 26, when I was under 16, I was entitled to free orthodontic treatment as my teeth were very crooked and 'goofy' as my dentist put it. We were referred to a highly recommended orthodontist practice in Epping (some considerable distance from where my mother (on benefits) lived.
We made every ortho appointment, and I was progressing well.
Ortho explained I would need to go back to dentist to have teeth removed, dentist refused saying she felt it was an NHS corner cutting measure to save money.
Ortho and dentist had phone call and argued, no resolution was made, so I was told by the ortho that there was no point in me coming back for appointments as I needed my teeth removed and my dentist was refusing.
My dentist explained to my mum that she was now an orthodontist, and she would be happy to do the work, it would be around £5k - hardly a suitable resolution for a single parent on benefits. The treatment was abandoned as a result and when I was old enough to look into the matter, I was told, I would now have to pay for the treatment as I am an adult. I have tried various ways of getting something sorted, but simply cannot afford the figures I am being quoted. I feel cheated by the system and really quite angry by it all.
My last correspondence was a letter to my PCT (a local resolution complaint form). They have just got back to me after over a month and say they only look at issues under 12 months old. Liability is with my dentist as it was their job to find me suitable treatment, and I should take the issue up with the dentist or contact the General Medical Council. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Copy of my letter to PCT:
In a nutshell,
I am 26, when I was under 16, I was entitled to free orthodontic treatment as my teeth were very crooked and 'goofy' as my dentist put it. We were referred to a highly recommended orthodontist practice in Epping (some considerable distance from where my mother (on benefits) lived.
We made every ortho appointment, and I was progressing well.
Ortho explained I would need to go back to dentist to have teeth removed, dentist refused saying she felt it was an NHS corner cutting measure to save money.
Ortho and dentist had phone call and argued, no resolution was made, so I was told by the ortho that there was no point in me coming back for appointments as I needed my teeth removed and my dentist was refusing.
My dentist explained to my mum that she was now an orthodontist, and she would be happy to do the work, it would be around £5k - hardly a suitable resolution for a single parent on benefits. The treatment was abandoned as a result and when I was old enough to look into the matter, I was told, I would now have to pay for the treatment as I am an adult. I have tried various ways of getting something sorted, but simply cannot afford the figures I am being quoted. I feel cheated by the system and really quite angry by it all.
My last correspondence was a letter to my PCT (a local resolution complaint form). They have just got back to me after over a month and say they only look at issues under 12 months old. Liability is with my dentist as it was their job to find me suitable treatment, and I should take the issue up with the dentist or contact the General Medical Council. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Copy of my letter to PCT:
Local Resolution NHS Complaint
To whom it may concern, I am writing to draw your attention to the lack of NHS care I have had relating to my dental care some years ago.
This issue dates back many years, and I have, in my spare time, been actively trying to resolve this issue, but I feel I am being pushed from pillar to post.
I will try to be as brief in my explanation as possible;
When I was a child at around the age of 13/14, my dentist, Dentist X referred me to SuperDuper Orthodontic Surgery in Epping. The referral was for my teeth as Dentist X felt it necessary that I have a brace fitted to straighten my teeth. At the time, I can remember that they pointed out a lot at the front, I was often unable to eat certain foods because of my poor bite and Dentist X advised that a brace would fix this problem. Orthodontist Y at the SuperDuper Orthodontic Surgery was my orthodontist. My mother would drive me to see him every few weeks whilst I wore removable appliances (this was often a struggle as she could barely afford to get me there and back). The treatment was going well and orthodontist Y was pleased with my progress. On our last visit to the practice, orthodontist Y explained to my mother and me that for the next stage of the treatment, I would need to go back to dentist x to have some teeth removed. When we spoke with dentist x, she refused saying this was a corner cutting procedure to do the work on the cheap. Following on from seeing dentist x, my mother received a call from orthodontist y explaining that dentist x had called him and had a heated argument on the phone and orthodontist y would be unable to see me. It was left that my mother would have to find alternative providers for my treatment. My mother was single and on benefits and was struggling to pay the bills let alone get me to the orthodontist. Unsurprisingly, she was unable to progress with this matter in anyway. Shortly after dentist x informed us she would no longer be able to see me as an NHS patient, but would be happy to sign me up as a private customer. Something we clearly could not afford.
In later years when I was 19 and had my first job, I enquired at my dentist about getting the work completed seeing as I was mobile and able to get myself from A to B, and was shocked to me told that I would now be expected to pay for the treatment as I am an adult.
As far as I am concerned, I was entitled to the work and due to two professionals having a fall out, I have been left with a problem which I am now expected to bear the brunt of. We are not rich people, and I do not have thousands of pounds going spare. I have tried various routes to get this issue resolved, and all of them appear to involve money.
Having recently completed a law course, I am now fully aware of my rights and the responsibilities of my primary care trust, hence my letter.
My current dentist advised me to visit my local GP regarding my teeth and the fact I am still unable to eat certain foods as he felt it was something the GP could refer me for and something which is affecting my diet. My GP told me there is nothing he can do and I should go private to get the orthodontic work done. I am absolutely disgusted and shocked at the level of care I have received and at the poor attitudes towards my problem; that I should be expected to pay for something I was fully entitled to get fixed for free. I could fully understand if I had been a bad patient and not attended my appointments. We attended every one of orthodontist y's appointments which often involved me taking time off of school and meant my mother was unable to afford food for the week, and what a waste it has all been.
I would like to know what the XYZ PCT plan on doing regarding my case.
I look most forward to your response as this is my last resort.
To whom it may concern, I am writing to draw your attention to the lack of NHS care I have had relating to my dental care some years ago.
This issue dates back many years, and I have, in my spare time, been actively trying to resolve this issue, but I feel I am being pushed from pillar to post.
I will try to be as brief in my explanation as possible;
When I was a child at around the age of 13/14, my dentist, Dentist X referred me to SuperDuper Orthodontic Surgery in Epping. The referral was for my teeth as Dentist X felt it necessary that I have a brace fitted to straighten my teeth. At the time, I can remember that they pointed out a lot at the front, I was often unable to eat certain foods because of my poor bite and Dentist X advised that a brace would fix this problem. Orthodontist Y at the SuperDuper Orthodontic Surgery was my orthodontist. My mother would drive me to see him every few weeks whilst I wore removable appliances (this was often a struggle as she could barely afford to get me there and back). The treatment was going well and orthodontist Y was pleased with my progress. On our last visit to the practice, orthodontist Y explained to my mother and me that for the next stage of the treatment, I would need to go back to dentist x to have some teeth removed. When we spoke with dentist x, she refused saying this was a corner cutting procedure to do the work on the cheap. Following on from seeing dentist x, my mother received a call from orthodontist y explaining that dentist x had called him and had a heated argument on the phone and orthodontist y would be unable to see me. It was left that my mother would have to find alternative providers for my treatment. My mother was single and on benefits and was struggling to pay the bills let alone get me to the orthodontist. Unsurprisingly, she was unable to progress with this matter in anyway. Shortly after dentist x informed us she would no longer be able to see me as an NHS patient, but would be happy to sign me up as a private customer. Something we clearly could not afford.
In later years when I was 19 and had my first job, I enquired at my dentist about getting the work completed seeing as I was mobile and able to get myself from A to B, and was shocked to me told that I would now be expected to pay for the treatment as I am an adult.
As far as I am concerned, I was entitled to the work and due to two professionals having a fall out, I have been left with a problem which I am now expected to bear the brunt of. We are not rich people, and I do not have thousands of pounds going spare. I have tried various routes to get this issue resolved, and all of them appear to involve money.
Having recently completed a law course, I am now fully aware of my rights and the responsibilities of my primary care trust, hence my letter.
My current dentist advised me to visit my local GP regarding my teeth and the fact I am still unable to eat certain foods as he felt it was something the GP could refer me for and something which is affecting my diet. My GP told me there is nothing he can do and I should go private to get the orthodontic work done. I am absolutely disgusted and shocked at the level of care I have received and at the poor attitudes towards my problem; that I should be expected to pay for something I was fully entitled to get fixed for free. I could fully understand if I had been a bad patient and not attended my appointments. We attended every one of orthodontist y's appointments which often involved me taking time off of school and meant my mother was unable to afford food for the week, and what a waste it has all been.
I would like to know what the XYZ PCT plan on doing regarding my case.
I look most forward to your response as this is my last resort.
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