This policy is to highlight the guidance around regular attendance and the obtaining of appointments for NHS patients. It is relevant to all patients and staff working within Neighbourhood Centre Dental Practice.
When treating NHS patients, the practice and clinicians follow the National institution for Health and Clinical excellence (NICE) guidance.
Patients recall periods are documented and individually prescribed to meet the needs of the patient. The practice follows this policy to allow for the capacity of our appointments to be fairly given to routine patients who regularly attend and take the advice of the clinician with regards to their dental health and recall period.
Routine examination appointments are arranged based on 3, 6, 9, 12, 15-, 18-, 21- and 24-month recall. When a patient has been treated and had completed a routine examination appointment, the Dentist will then advise based on NICE guidance what recall period is appropriate for the patient. (Please see https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg19/chapter/Introduction)
It is the responsibility of the patient to contact the practice to make an appointment when is convenient. We will always endeavour to book your appointment with the same Dentist you saw at your last appointment however due to capacity of appointment’s you may be seen by another Dentist to complete your appointment and treatment required. If the patient requests a certain Dentist, we will try our best to book you with this Dentist depending on the diary and patient capacity.
Neighbourhood Centre Dental Practice prioritise our appointments on regular attendants. Those who attend the practice regularly will be seen as a priority over those who have not attended over the last 2 years.
We reserve the right to refuse an appointment to anyone who has not attended the practice within 2 years.
We will always remind our patients of upcoming appointments by SMS or e-mail, 48h before scheduled appointment.
Should for any reason, the Practice had to cancel any appointments, Patients will be notified about the cancellation via SMS followed by a phone call to reschedule.
Additionally, and in line with our FTA/SCN Policy we reserve the right to remove the patient from our list should they breach this Policy and/or to retain hygiene or private appointment deposit as per point 8 of our Fees and Payments Policy.
Neighbourhood Centre Dental Practice WILL NOT be sending out de-registration letters.
When the patient contacts the practice and they have been removed from the NHS list, the patient can be offered to re-join the Practice on the Private pay as you go service, if they wish.
The patient has a right to appeal from Practice decision regarding their deregistration via e-mail send to practice-canford@dental-poole.co.uk
Last update: 5th January 2024
