How long does a dentist have to respond to a complaint?
A full response is required within 20 working days; otherwise the complainant should be told when they can expect one.
When can a dentist strike you off?
Removal without warning can only occur if: The patient has moved outside the doctor’s practice area (although he/she should be given 30 days in which to make alternative arrangements, the practice is not responsible for visiting or treating the patient during this period).
When to make a complaint about dental treatment?
Your complaint must be made within 12 months of receiving treatment. If your complaint is not resolved satisfactorily, you may want to consider contacting the General Dental Council, which sets standards of conduct and regulates all dental professionals in the UK.
When do things aggravate you as a dentist?
Things aggravate when the treatment you carry out fails to deliver the expected results. You, as a dentist, might be doing everything in your control to ensure that your patient’s treatment goes as planned.
How to deal with unhappy patients at dental clinic?
There are no two ways about it – even in the most stressful of situations, you and your staff must maintain composure and be polite towards your patients. Even if there’s a dissatisfied or angry patient at your clinic, make sure you maintain a polite tone.
What’s the most common mistake in complaints handling?
A frequent mistake in complaints handling is to provide a detailed response before the investigation has finished and all the facts have been gathered. Remember that any response to a complaint could form evidence considered at a later hearing. Don’t be over-hasty in your response.
Can a patient make a complaint about a dentist?
Dental complaints services do not work as easily as you think. In some cases, when the matter is quickly resolved, all it takes is a compromising setup where both the patient and the dentist will walk away satisfied with how the issue was handled. Unfortunately, such cases are quite rare.
How does DCS deal with private dental complaints?
The free service looks into private complaints that are raised within 12 months of treatment or 12 months of the patient becoming aware of a problem. DCS advisers prioritise informal resolution which involves working with the complainant and the dental professional to try and reach agreement.
What should I do if I have a disagreement with my dentist?
If further assistance is required, patients have other options: Contact your state dental society to ask if they have a process called peer review. Contact your state dental board. Some dental societies have established a dispute resolution system called peer review to help resolve the occasional disagreement about dental treatment.
Who is the dental Ombudsman in the UK?
The ombudsman works independently of the government and the NHS. Contact us for more advice . The General Dental Council are the organisation which regulates dentists and other dental care professionals in the UK. This includes clinical dental technicians, orthodontists and dental therapists, in addition to dental hygienists and nurses.