Appointment Policy

We are currently experiencing a high volume of failed appointments and short notice cancellations.

We kindly ask you give us at least 48 hours notice if you cannot attend an appointment, so that we can fill your slot.

Please be aware you may loose your entitlement to treatment at the practice if you cancel multiple appointments at short notice and/or fail to attend appointments.

Our policy on missed or late cancelled appointments and failure to return for treatment

Missed or late cancelled appointments

  • Late cancellation is defined as being a cancellation less than 48 hours before the appointment.
  • We do not charge NHS patients for missed or late cancelled dental appointments.
  • A fee for missed or late cancelled private appointments is at the discretion of the dentist, and is based on the cost of the surgery time lost.
  • If patients fail to attend, arrives late, or cancels on ​2 or more occasions,​ the practice will offer no further appointments
  • This is in line with the NHS Choices website which states that “if you miss NHS appointments, your dentist can decide not to offer you treatment in the future”
  • Any patients that fails to attend a treatment appointment, will be managed as per the failed to return policy below. Patients must be given a “reasonable time period” for which to contact the practice to re-book the appointment. Patients will be contacted to try to arrange this appointment. Contact will be via phone. The maximum time allowed for this will be 2 months.
  • If the patient then attends for the treatment recommended, the fee for the band 2 or 3 treatment will be maintained, and no additional fee applies.
  • If patients fail to attend for a scale & polish appointment, where it will just be a band 1 treatment, this open course of treatment can be closed with immediate effect, as this is classed as part of the examination process. The form can be closed as failed to complete. Should the patient then wish to attend for this treatment at a later date, a new course of treatment will be entered into, and the full band 1 fee will be applicable again.
  • If the patient fails to attend for subsequent appointments, despite having been contacted, the above procedure will be followed,  no more appointments will be given.
  • If patients arrive more than 10 minutes late for a scheduled appointment, then the appointment may not be able to go ahead. If patients think they may be late for an appointment, it is advised that they call the practice ASAP

Failure to return for treatment

  • Patients are encouraged to make appointments for any treatment required at the time of the initial assessment.
  • Patients with outstanding treatment will be contacted to make an appointment as soon as possible, please ensure you keep your contact details up to date.
  • If an appointment is not scheduled ​within 1 month​ of the initial assessment, the treatment plan may be closed.
  • The actual treatment appointment, if made, does not have to be within 1 month, as long as an appointment is on the system.
  • If no appointment is made after two attempts to contact the patient, the treatment plan can be closed, as the patient will be presumed to have failed to return.
  • This will mean that anyone with an open course of NHS treatment, who have paid already for Band 1, will have to pay again for a new course of treatment.
  • Our policy is in line with guidance on the NHS Choices website set by NHS England.
  • Any concerns or complaints can be directed to Nicki Ingle, and the complaint procedure will be made known if required.

Declaring Exemptions

  • Patients are responsible for ensuring they declare their exemptions correctly; Corner House Surgery is not responsible for this declaration. We advise you bring proof of exemptions to appointments.