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Emergency Dental Service

Posted By lynxjj56

"Emergency Dental Service"

About: Forth Valley Royal Hospital / Dental

(as the patient),

I'm new to the Forth Valley area, having moved from Edinburgh and required some dental treatment. I contacted local dental practices, and none of them would give me any treatment due to the current covid situation, they directed me to the emergency dental helpline for treatment. When I called the dental helpline and explained the situation (that I was in pain, needed treatment, and none of the dentists would see me), they asked if I was registered at a dentist. I explained that I was, in Edinburgh, which was out with my current health board area. I was disappointed and saddened to hear that because of this, they would not see me, they wouldn't even offer an emergency appointment. I explained that I had a very young child, getting into Edinburgh would be extremely difficult for me and the financial and timely implications of this is huge. I also tried to explain that I felt I was entitled to emergency treatment within my current health board area.

I was also really disappointed that Covid-19 is still being used as a reason, 2 years on from the start of the pandemic. I'm not sure how patient's are expected to access the required treatment in these situations, and I'm sure I'm not the only person in this situation. I wondered if there was any plans for when patient's will be able to be seen in dental services? This would not be an accepted course of action in GP surgeries, and surely dental pain also needs treatment.

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Responses

Response from NHS Forth Valley 3 years ago
NHS Forth Valley

Submitted on 01/02/2022 at 09:27
Published on Care Opinion at 09:27

Dear lynxjj56

I'm sorry to hear that you were disappointed by the advice given.

Dental practices are working under restrictions as set out in the current infection and prevention control guidance due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation. This is affecting patient throughput in dental practices and due to this they are having to prioritise their own registered patients. Until Scottish Government feel it is safe to ease these restrictions there is likely to be very little change and the practices will still need to work through a backlog of care.

Unlike medical practice registration patients do not have to be registered with a dental practice in their own Health Board. At this current time very, few dental practices in Scotland are taking on new patients, registration is challenging. At the Dental Helpline we are advising any registered patients to remain registered with practices where the distance is deemed reasonable as it is their best chance at accessing regular dental care.

A registered practice will be able to deliver any potential follow up care as well as emergency care. The dental service delivered through the helpline is for emergency care only and patients are required to travel to appointments in clinics which are spread across Forth Valley. Your own registered dentist will know your mouth and needs best as they can access your clinical dental notes, these do not follow you like medical notes.

With all this in mind we are advising patients to stay registered where they can in the shorter term as it is in their best interests to do so. Meanwhile, Scottish Government and the Health Board are working to look at what they can do to improve access to care.

Lesley Yeaman

Clinical Director, Public Dental Service

NHS Forth Valley

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