Can an NHS dentist charge for a missed appointment? Yes, NHS dentists can charge patients for missed appointments under certain circumstances. This policy aims to reduce the number of missed appointments, which can be costly for the NHS and inconvenient for other patients.
Missed appointments can disrupt the dentist's schedule, leading to delays and reduced efficiency. Additionally, the NHS incurs costs for staff time, materials, and equipment that would have been used during the missed appointment. To discourage patients from missing appointments without a valid reason, some NHS dentists have implemented a charging policy.