"Confusion concerning my Dental Practice's NHS Funding!"

I called my dental practice to obtain treatment for a filling that had come out, I was advised the practice had run out of NHS funding and would not have more funding until April. Somewhat dismayed at finding this out I looked up the NHS web site and called the number for the dental services help line. I explained that I had been advised the dental practice had reported they had run out of funding and asked if there were any forms I could use to get a refund as I would have to get the dental work done privately, there was no other option. The gentleman I spoke to commented that the practice could treat me and apply for the extra funding to cover my treatment (this seemed a bit odd if they had to do that for every patient until April) but he also commented that the practice wouldn’t have run out of NHS funding anyway and should be able to treat me. I reiterated that I had been advised that the dental practice had run of NHS funding and therefore could not treat me but he commented that would not be the case.

I made reference to three or four other articles on the internet that reported ‘Dentist forced to turn away patients, NHS budget runs out’ and I was asked to forward an email to the NHS Dental services which I did.

It was all very well for the NHS Dental Services to advise me that the Dental practice would not have run out of money and could treat me but I have attended my dental clinic for probably twenty years or more and this has never happened. I am stuck between two parties who have a different view on the NHS funding and I am forced to pay for private treatment when I should not need to. After all why do we subscribe to the NHS throughout our working lives?