Dear patients,
We are writing to inform you of important changes taking place at Finney Lane Dental Care.
Stephanie Buck, our Principal dentist, has worked for the NHS for over 20 years and has seen lots of change in that time. There have been regular amendments and restrictions added to our contract, a reduction in funding in real terms and ever-increasing overheads. In addition, there has been a large discrepancy in the funding offered by the NHS to the various providers in the Stockport area to deliver the same service.
Moving forward, we want to ensure we can continue to provide the best care for all of our patients and to offer a service to many in our community who urgently require dental treatment. Stephanie is keen to offer you more choice, time and flexibility. To enable us to do this, we have decided to make a few changes to the service we provide. From 1st January 2023, Stephanie will solely be concentrating on seeing patients on a private basis. Rachael Parry will continue to see our NHS patients. We feel a mixed practice is the best way to accommodate the needs of both our NHS and private patients.
We would like to offer you three options for your future treatment:
1. Remain a patient of Stephanie’s and join a Membership payment plan so you can spread the cost of your appointments throughout the year (you will find full details at the end of this letter)
2. Remain a patient of Stephanie’s and pay for private appointments and treatments as you go
3. Remain or become a patient of Rachael’s and be treated on the NHS.
Please note that all children (under 18 year olds) and young people who are in full-time further and higher education will continue to be seen as NHS patients by both Stephanie and Rachael.
We are giving you 3 months’ notice of the changes due to take place and to give you time to make your decision. If you choose option 3 and wish to remain an NHS patient, you do not need to inform us. We will automatically transfer you to Rachael and amend any appointments after 1st January 2023 accordingly. If you choose options 1 or 2, we would ask you to contact us preferably by email at info@finneylanedental.co.uk or by telephone after 2pm Tuesday to Thursday when it is quieter. Please note we only have one telephone line into the practice which is used for emergencies and making appointments.
Membership Plans
To help with the transition for those patients who wish to remain a patient of Stephanie’s, we are introducing a range of Membership plans to help our patients budget for their dental care. The charges for private dental care under these plans are extremely competitive and can be spread over 12 monthly direct debit payments. By joining the plan, you will also receive the additional benefits of 5% discount off all private treatments, priority service and Worldwide Accident and Emergency Dental Insurance at no additional cost.
There are several options to choose from to suit your individual needs and budget (we have tried to keep the cost to you as low as possible).
Plan 1.1: 1 Dental Exam and 1 Hygiene Appointment* annually £8.03 per month
Plan 1.2: 1 Dental Exam and 2 Hygiene Appointments annually £12.14 per month
Plan 2.2: 2 Dental Exams and 2 Hygiene Appointments annually £14.91 per month
Plan 2.4: 2 Dental Exams and 4 Hygiene Appointments annually £23.14 per month
*A Hygiene appointment is an integral part of maintaining good oral health; it is carried out by a dental care professional who specialises in the prevention of oral disease and provides a thorough clean of your teeth and gums.
All plans come with 5% discounts on additional private treatments including teeth whitening and orthodontics. The cost of a Dental Exam for private non-plan patients is £45.
What to do next
Until the 1st January 2023 our services will continue unchanged. All NHS treatments commenced before then will be completed by Stephanie. If you have an appointment before the 1st January, we can answer any questions you may have or assess you for the most appropriate Membership plan then. Otherwise, we are happy to answer any queries by email or phone (on the days and at the times suggested). If you wish to remain an NHS patient, no action is needed.
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Stephanie Buck
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