MTs disappearing fast

[Headers]

I read somewhere that if you cannot find a MT who will accept new patients you can contact Amelie who will find one for you. I can’t vouch for the veracity

You can do that but it really doesn’t make any difference if there are no MTs in the area! You still end up seeing someone who won’t register you and the reimbursements are lower.

[Lori]

Finding a dentist may be even more difficult than an MT, Lori.

Yes, I've been given a recommendation for a dental clinic in Limoges. I've saved the data.

[tagh]

Be careful, Lorikeet, beak repairs can be challenging!

[Lori]

Be careful, Lorikeet, beak repairs can be challenging!

[exile]

And does anyone really believe it is hypothecated - any more than CRDS has reduced the debts in France?

Ultimately, it does not matter whether the monies are ring-fenced or not. What does matter is that there is enough money - and there isn't.

[Veem]

Our previous MT (a one-man practice) retired about 4 years ago and we were lucky enough to get on the lists for our current MTs, who are husband and wife. Generally, we only ever see the wife, who is amazing. She seems to have our case histories etched in her memory and always has such a caring manner. They are not a young couple and the whole Covid scenario seems to have taken its toll on her, but we are still greeted in a cheery way and (though we don't ever seem to take up as much of her time as her French patients), we have never felt rushed. Selfishly, I hope they continue to practise for as long as we might need them to.

[Hotrodder]

We are lucky with ours. A friend introduced me to him about 20 years ago and he has been brilliant in every respect. I am convinced his skill and experience saved my friend's life. She had been experiencing short blackouts or dizziness for a couple of years and had seen various medics in UK who couldn't work out what was going on. The worry was if she had one while driving it would not end well. This gem of a m.t. suspected heart problems and immediately sent her for tests. After confirmation she was fitted with a pacemaker in a few short weeks.

[exile]

On the subject of independent health insurance, I have had the pleasure of being enrolled in one of the German health insurances. These were built around individual companies or industries as BKKs - Betriebeskrankenkasse - Company health insurance. During my stay the systems organised to expand their fields of operation beyond just one company to become more industry based. Employees also gained the opportunity to choose whichever Kasse they wanted and not just the one linked to their company. Nobody I know ever admitted to having chosen another Kasse, but then ours was one of the cheaper ones. During my stay the contributions increased from 12.5% of pay to 13.4%. Over my entire stay (including before I joined the BKK), the Kasse across Germany were making a loss and had to receive government subvention. They did however fund dentists at least at level that allowed access to all, if not all treatments.

The relevance of this is that the UK class A NI contributions are 12% maximum - zero up to a minimum level, 12% for a range up to something under £5k per month and then 2% thereafter.

Is it any wonder that the UK NHS is underfunded?

[niemeyjt]

And yet my Swiss Health Insurance is about 4% with the lowest excess possible - and would be less if I took a larger excess. Which is why frontaliers all choose LaMal not CMU/PUMA

Personally, I would like to see UK NI and Income Tax merged - and rates adjusted - which will also eliminate some of the tax dodges. However, I would not trust NHS Trust Managers to spend it properly (i.e. not on their pay rises!).

I read Labour plan something along those lines - but without the rate adjustment - so it will probably just make things worse.

[Lori]

I've called 31 medecin generalistes in the Brive area, none are taking new patients. I've called 15 Dentists in the region and none are taking new patients. Nice.