.

Referral to the Specialist Care Dental Service (Warwickshire)

NHS  Warwickshire commissions Warwickshire Special Care Dental Service to provide dental care for residents of Warwickshire whose dental care needs cannot be met by the General Dental Service (family dentist) or the Hospital Dental Service.

Special Care Dentistry is broadly concerned with providing and enabling the improvement of oral health of individuals who may have a physical, sensory, intellectual, mental, medical, emotional or social impairment or disability or, frequently, a combination of a number of these factors.

Criteria for assessment is based on:

• Ability to communicate
• Ability to co-operate
• Medical
• Oral Risk Factors
• Access to Oral Care.

Minor Oral Surgery referrals are made through the Rego system to commissioned providers. We do not accept referrals for minor oral surgery unless it is considered a routine extraction and referee considers behavioural / anxiety management is required e.g. Sedation.

We do not accept referrals specifically for endodontic, fixed or removable prosthetics or periodontology.

Patients may be accepted for Short Term Care (single course of treatment e.g. those with less severe tolerances issues that can be addressed by an acclimatisation programme; specific treatment under sedation General Anaesthetic, Intravenous or Inhalation), or for Long Term Care (due to the long term nature of their needs e.g. Patients who require use of a hoist for transfer, use of specialist equipment or Domiciliary care).

Referrals to Warwickshire Special Care Dental Service can only be made by a dental practitioner, medical practitioner or health/social care professional.

Self- Referrals by patients are not accepted.

Geographic Coverage

Our special care clinics are located across North and South Warwickshire, for patients living within the Warwickshire postal code. Further location details can be found on our website:

http://www.geh.nhs.uk/directory-of-services/specialties-and-services/special-care-dental-service/

Costs

All patients accepted for care with the Special Care Dental Service will be required to pay NHS dental charges in line with the current dental charges outlined by the Department of Health, unless the patient is exempt; Evidence of exemption status will be sought. More details can be found on the link below; https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-dental-costs

Making a Referral

Please use the referral form found on our website under the Information for Professionals tab (Web link is below) or on request from the Booking and Access Team on 01926 317778.

http://www.geh.nhs.uk/directory-of-services/specialties-and-services/special-care-dental-service/

To facilitate an effective assessment of referrals, please complete all sections of the referral, including the patients NHS number. Failure to do so may result in your referral being declined.

1. Referrer Details
2. Patient Details (Including NHS number)
3. Next of Kin Details
4. Patients General Medical Practitioner
5. Reason for Referral (Please provide a detailed account)
6. Disability Information Details
7. Medical History and Medications
8. Previous Dental History (Completed by dentists only)
9. Dental Treatment Request (Completed by dentists only)
10. Supporting Information
11. Patient consent for referral
12. Referrers signature

Send your completed referral form to our Booking and Access team on the email address provided on the referral forms. dentalreferrals.warks@nhs.net

We will no longer accept referrals via post.

Further essential information prior to acceptance

Prior to referral for extraction of permanent molar teeth in children:

• Good quality radiographs (preferably OPG). Please attach radiographs to the referral or advise reason not.
• An orthodontic opinion should be considered, particularly in the following cases and a copy attached to the referral.

1. If any permanent teeth are missing or in a poor eruptive position
2. Class I crowding cases
3. Class II cases
4. Class III cases

(RCS Guidelines 2014 – www.rcseng.ac.uk)

Once the referral has been received a Dental Officer will triage. Accepted referrals will be placed in one of two categories.

• Urgent referrals will receive telephone consultation from a Dental officer and a letter of acceptance will be sent to the referrer.
• Routine referral patients will be added onto the waiting list. A letter of acceptance will be sent to the patient and the referrer.

If the referral is declined, the referrer will receive a letter outlining the reason(s).

If you have not heard back from us within two weeks of sending your referral, please contact the Booking & Access Team for advice.

See Rugby guidance

See Rugby guidance