A Brit was left fuming after being told he may have to wait a total of 10 years for a dentist appointment.
It comes as the NHS faces a huge backlog in appointments for patients, leaving dentistry ' hanging by a thread '.
The 50-year-old patient, from Leeds, had been trying to see a dentist since before the pandemic, LeedsLive reports
He had been dropped from Fountain Dental Practice after failing to show up for an appointment and discovered he faced an eight-year wait when he tried to re-join.
The unnamed patient said: "I searched on the internet for dentists taking on NHS patients and on the website said that Fountain Medical Centre was accepting patients."
The patient said he then emailed the practice trying to get back on the registration list.
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After years of allegedly waiting, and in need of an appointment, he emailed the practice on Tuesday (April 19) and said: "Hi I'm just emailing to see if you're accepting NHS patients please. Thank you."
The dentist responded and said he would have to wait up to eight years to get back on the list.
The email said: "Hello, thank you for contacting the practice.
"We are adding new patients on the waiting list however this waiting list is approx. eight years waiting.
"If you would like your details adding to our waiting list please contact the practice providing us with your telephone number so that we can contact you when we reach your name.
"I would also advise that you get on as many waiting lists as possible.
"There are others that are a lot shorter. If you have pain I would advise to call 111 - the NHS emergency number."
The frustrated former patient posted a screenshot of the email online which raked in hundreds of responses as he said "form an orderly queue folks".
The 50-year-old added: "I understand the NHS is underfunded but it seems if you go private that's the only way now."
Luckily after sharing the post online someone who works at another dental practice near his home got in touch to help.
His experience comes after The 50-year-old added: "I understand the NHS is underfunded but it seems if you go private that's the only way now."
Luckily, after sharing the post online someone who works at another dental practice near his home got in touch to help.
His experience comes after NHS England announced they would provide an extra £50 million for dentists to provide additional urgent care for NHS patients.
The unprecedented backlog has left dentistry "hanging by a thread" with many dentists looking to change careers or seeking early retirement.
General Dental Practice Committee Chair Shawn Charlwood said: “Any additional funding is long overdue recognition of the huge backlogs facing NHS dentistry."
Fountain Dental Practice has been approached for comment.
