Improvements Viewer


Improving the emergency Access for Dental Patients in Pembrokeshire

Aim

To provide emergency dental access provision which:-

  • Provides high quality services focused on patients.
  • Is responsive, and works towards improving public access to emergency dental care for unregistered patients.
  • Has an emphasis on quality.
  • Ensures equitable access and service provision.
  • Provides evidence based services which ensure high standards.

For Patients

·         Provides access to good quality emergency dental treatment.
·         Ensures a flexible service which reacts to patient need.

  • Has an effective system for dealing with concerns and complaints.
  • Listens to the views of people who use the services to improve the care they receive.

For Professionals

·         Ensures job satisfaction.
·         Ensures support to deliver high quality emergency dental care.
·         Provides access to relevant information, well trained staff, professional support and mentoring
·         Assumes reasonable reward for providing high quality services.
·         Provides good quality, fit for purpose premises.
·         Assures integrated team working with best use of skills.

Methodology

The project was outsourced.  Pembrokeshire Local Health Board (LHB) entered into a formal alliance with the Haven Dental Practice to undertake the work of the project.  Pembrokeshire LHB employed a salaried dentist who works solely with the Haven Dental Practice to undertake 10 sessions a week.  Haven Dental Practice in partnership with the Pembrokeshire LHB undertook to manage, support and direct the work of the project. There are regular project meetings between the Haven Dental Practice and Pembrokeshire LHB both to monitor progress and to further develop the project.  Haven Dental Practice employs the appropriate staff to support the project.

 

Patients who are not registered at a dentist are able to access an appointment at the Haven Dental Practice for emergency dental treatment or a 'see and treat' session. There are limitations to the provision which does not include cosmetic work; crown or bridge work and only limited denture work is undertaken.

 

Patients are not registered with Haven Dental Practice in the long term. Patients who receive treatment are able to access information which will includes lifestyle advice in respect of smoking cessation, oral health education and dental hygiene options. The project aims to be simple for users using a 'one stop shop' methodology.



Results

This project began on March 1st 2005 and is commissioned for two years.

The project is positive and developing well. The dentist treats on average 15 patients a day. Each person is allocated a 30 minute appointment time. At present most available appointments are filled by 9am and several patients have to be turned away each day but have opportunity to access an appointment the next day. On average 300 patients are seen in any one month. As would be expected over 20% of the work is extractions and 17% of the work is fillings.

There are over 11,000 patients registered on a data base at the LHB, these are patients who have registered their concern with the LHB in respect of having been unable to register with an NHS Dentist. This is considered to be the 'tip of an iceberg' in Pembrokeshire. Augmenting dental access provision in Pembrokeshire has proved invaluable and whilst it does not in any way replace core NHS dental provision it seeks to alleviate local pressures.



Evaluation

This service aims to be less complicated for users - it seeks to be faster and more convenient - a 'one stop shop'. This project contributes to local capacity building to 'hold' provision until a longer term solution can be found.