70% of dentists refuse to show price list

PATIENTS are facing wildly different prices for the same routine procedures in GP and dental practices up and down the country, a report has revealed.

According to a study carried out by the National Consumer Agency (NCA), a staggering seven out of 10 dentists and half of doctors refuse to display their prices for attending patients.

The finding has prompted a call from the NCA for the Government and the regulatory and representative bodies for both professions to submit a code of practice in the area.

The agency surveyed 251 GPs and dentists in 11 urban areas across Ireland in March and found huge variations in the prices charged for routine procedures.

Prices for a routine examination from a dentist ranged from nothing in seven dentists around the country to €86 charged by one practice in south Dublin.

The overall average for a routine examination from a dentist was €44.

The overall average for a scale and polish was €61, with fees ranging between €25 and €90.

The NCA study also found a staggering 68% of dentists did not display their prices and for those that did a wide variation in prices was uncovered.

Waterford city topped the list for dentists who did display their prices with 54% of those surveyed displaying the various costs. In Cork city, just 9% had their prices on show. Of the 83 dentists who did not display their prices, over half did not offer any reason for doing so. This is despite the fact that the Dental Council of Ireland’s Code of Conduct states: “Greater transparency in fees is advocated and a list of private fees should be prominently displayed.”

Prices for GPs also displayed a wide variation from €35 in Tralee/Killarney to €70 in Ballsbridge/Sandymount.

The overall national average for a routine GP consultation was €51. The lowest average price in individual areas was recorded in both the Ennis/Gort/Loughrea and Tralee/Killarney areas at €46. The highest average price was in the Ballsbridge/Sandymount area of Dublin at €59.

Half of the GPs visited by the NCA did not display their prices.

NCA chief executive Ann Fitzgerald called for greater transparency of doctor and dentists charges.

“Any service provider to the public should be required to display prices for routine services and there is no reason why doctors and dentists should be exempt.”