Every year we lose valuable surgery time because of patients failing to attend their appointments, or cancelling at short notice. This makes it difficult for us to accommodate our patients in need of urgent treatment, for existing patients to book appointments and for new patients to register here.

PRIVATE PATIENTS

To avoid the cost of failed or late cancelled appointments being passed onto the rest of our patients, with immediate effect, we will charge for un-used surgery time where a patient fails to attend or cancels without reasonable notice (less than 48 hours before the appointment).

Failing to attend an appointment for the first time will result in an email being sent to you along with a copy of this policy.

It is your responsibility to ensure that we are informed of any changes to your contact information.

After the first instance, failing to attend appointment will result in a charge.

Late cancellation charges will apply if an appointment is cancelled within 48 hours.

Patients who are unable to make their appointment because of illness should, where possible, contact the practice as soon as they are aware that they cannot attend. If you are unsure whether you can make it to an appointment, please contact us early to discuss the matter rather than leaving it to the last minute. Failing to notify us before the appointment time will result in a failure to attend charge being made.

We understand that scenarios do occur and discretion will be used.

Any FTA fee must be settled before you are booked in for another appointment.

 

DENPLAN/SPRINGFIELD PLAN PATIENTS

The missed appointment fees which apply to our Private Patients, as stated above, will also apply to all Denplan/Springfield Plan Patients.

Please refer to your Denplan Care or Denplan Essentials Handbook under ‘The Care/Essentials Contract between you and your dentist’ (Point 10):

“You are responsible for keeping appointments made with your practice team and you must pay any ‘missed appointment’ fee should you fail to do so.

You must ensure that you are also attend your dental practice for regular examinations, receive the treatment your practice team advises and you must promptly inform your dental practice of any injury, problem or other material matter affecting your oral health. If you fail to ensure any of this, you will be liable to pay any fee reasonably charged for treatment necessary to restore your oral health, which could otherwise have been avoided.”

REMINDERS

Text and email reminders are available for all appointments. If we have your contact information on file, we will always provide a reminder text or email one week in advance of your appointment. You should ensure that we are informed of any changes to your contact information.

Please note, text and email reminders are provided out of courtesy, not necessity. It is your responsibility to turn up on time for an appointment. Failure of the reminder system for any reason is not sufficient reason for failing to attend or turning up too late for treatment.