(Bristol, 2026-01-02 08:30:00) —
A dental practice in Bristol is facing scrutiny after a patient reported being told he had to pay for a hygienist appointment to register with the NHS.
- Sam Mellor, a resident of Bedminster, said he was required to book and pay for a £69 hygienist appointment to become an NHS patient at Lodge Causeway Dental Practice.
- The practice later told Mr. Mellor in an email that the hygienist appointment was “just an offer.”
- Mr. Mellor described the requirement as an “ultimatum” and filed a complaint.
A man in Bristol says he was effectively forced to pay for a private dental hygiene appointment to access NHS services, raising questions about patient access to care. Sam Mellor, from Bedminster, said he arrived at Lodge Causeway Dental Practice after 7:00 a.m. and did not reach the reception until shortly after 11:00 a.m.
After speaking with other frustrated patients who had just paid £69 for a hygienist appointment, Mr. Mellor asked the receptionist if this was a requirement for NHS registration, according to his account. He said the receptionist told him that booking a hygienist appointment was necessary to register as an NHS patient.
The receptionist advised Mr. Mellor he could pay for the appointment at a later date, before it took place, but that he would still need to book it and would not be registered with the NHS until payment was made, Mr. Mellor stated. He subsequently paid for the appointment and emailed a complaint about the service and the requirement to book the hygienist.
In an email seen by the BBC, Lodge Causeway Dental Practice claimed the hygienist appointment was “just an offer.” However, Mr. Mellor maintains this was not the case for him or many other patients, describing it as an “ultimatum.”
“She advised that he could pay for it at a later date, before the appointment, but that he would have to book it and would not be registered as an NHS patient until he had paid,” according to Mr. Mellor’s account of the conversation with the receptionist.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by the BBC and added independent analysis and context.
