"Disgusted"

Birmingham Dental Hospital Primary Care Unit provides urgent dental treatment to a limited number of patients each day who have acute dental problems, particularly if they do not have their own dentist. Tickets are allocated on a first come first served basis, and patients are recommended to arrive early, as doors are open from 7.30am. Registration for people with tickets starts at 8.30am Monday to Friday. When all tickets have been allocated, patients are advised to contact NHS Direct at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or 0845 46 47 to seek alternative dental arrangements.

Without more information it is not possible to give a certain explanation about why a later patient was seen, however as some patients attend the department by arrangement for follow up appointments it is possible the person was expected and therefore proceeded into the clinic.

I am very sorry the information you received about how to make a complaint was out of date, and I have asked for current leaflets / posters / information to be available to patients immediately. I thank you for bringing this to our attention.

If you wish to discuss your experience further, please do contact Alison Last, Associate Director of Patient Experience on 0121 466 7128 or email alison.last@bhamcommunity.nhs.uk