Your Rights and Responsibilities

YOU ARE ENTITLED TO:-

A thorough examination of your mouth, teeth and gingivae (gums)
A full explanation of your treatment options
A written treatment plan (including costs)
Information about NHS charges displayed in the waiting room
Advice on how to keep your teeth and gums healthy
Information about how this practice and the services available
A care and treatment summary if you decide to transfer to another dentist
Make a complaint if you are not happy with your treatment and care

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR:-

Giving at least 24 hours notice if you have to cancel or change an appointment. We will not charge for missed appoinments - but if you miss more than 3 appointments we may no longer be able to offer you treatment
Following your dentist's advice to prevent tooth decay and gum disease
Paying your bill promptly
Bringing proof of entitlement when claiming help with the cost of NHS treatment. If no proof is shown your elegibility will be checked
Treating our staff with courtesy and respect

Please note - if your treatment is a 'Band 1' course of treatment or you do not have to pay NHS charges, you will have to ask your dentist to provide this.
We may refuse to treat patients who are violent or abusive, fail to pay their bills or refuse to co-operate during treatment. In this case we will inform the patient and Croydon PCT.

YOUR DENTAL RECORDS

Your dental records will remain confidential and secure. However from time to time we may need to release these to Croydon PCT or the NHS Business Services Authority Dental Practice Division as part of our ongoing clinical review process. We will try to contact you before releasing your dental records to another organisation.

LOCAL NHS SERVICES

NHS Direct
Go to NHS Direct Interactivr on digital satellite TV, visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or telephone 0845 46 47.

Croydon PCT
Patient Advice and Liaison Service
Croydon Primary Care Trust
12-18 Lennard Road
Croydon
CR9 2RS
Tel: 020 8274 6300
Fax: 020 8666 0495
www.croydon.nhs.uk

NHS COUNTER FRAUD SERVICE

For more advice on receiving help with the cost of NHS dental treatment, go to www.cfsms.nhs.uk and click on 'Entitled to help with NHS costs'.

If you have a suspicion of fraud taking place within the NHS, please contact our Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line on 0800 028 40 60 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6am).