There is no adequate emergency service provided by the dentist directly. I recently had a dental emergency. As I work a night shift I did not finish work until 6.05 in the morning (waking nights) after starting work at 7pm the night before. I work a one hours drive away from home (and the dentist). I came home from work feeling very ill and exhausted any my tonsils had flared up likely as a result of a shattered filling. I came home at 7pm and was too tired and ill to wait up for the dentist (I am also 61 years old and a diabetic). When I woke up after getting much needed sleep I phoned the dentist straight away it was 15.40pm Friday afternoon. I explained the circumstances and why I did not call earlier (they were closed when I came home from night work). I asked to be seen that evening. Despite living less than 5 minutes drive around the corner I was told (as if from a script) that the dentist finished at 4.15 and the last patient was already in. I asked if they could not make an exception as my daughter was flying out of the UK on delayed honeymoon and on Monday I had the care of a 1.5 and 3 year old and could not see a dentist in Yorkshire (where I am looking after them). I explained that the problem tooth was making me very unwell and was responsible in my view for a tonsil flare up. I asked if they could at least see me and prescribe me some urgent antibiotics. The responses I received were robotic and the internal procedures were repeated over and over with no response to what I was actually saying. I phoned the emergency NHS line on Saturday morning and was told the only available appts. were in Macclesfield, Chester, or Birkenhead all one hours drive away - I replied I was not well enough to drive for two hours (there/back) and have to wait until Sunday now and phone at 8pm and will be seen locally if I am lucky. Do I think I have been given good service in an emergency - a resounding no. My old dentist had an emergency weekend service.
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