Enhanced NHS endodontic services in England: a postcode lottery?

Autor: Phillip Tomson, Philip J. Lumley, Oliver P. Jones, David J. B. Green
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: British Dental Journal. 226:871-877
ISSN: 1476-5373
0007-0610
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-019-0362-z
Popis: Aim To investigate the consistency of commissioning and provision of enhanced NHS endodontic services across England. Methods The level of provision for enhanced endodontic services was sought using two methods. An electronic questionnaire was distributed to each of the thirteen director of commissioning operations (DCO) teams in NHS England to determine the perception from commissioners of what endodontic services are currently provided and commissioned. A systematic search to assess what is advertised by enhanced endodontic providers was also carried out to cross-reference with the information gained from electronic questionnaires. Results A 77% response rate to the questionnaire was achieved. Eight out of the ten DCO teams that replied provided enhanced NHS endodontics to a greater or lesser extent, one did not and one was unsure. Three teams did not respond. Providers of services included dentists with enhanced skills, endodontic specialists, and dentists working within district or dental hospitals. Five out of ten DCO teams commissioned level two services and six commissioned level three services. Dental hospital acceptance criteria for enhanced endodontics differ regionally, but most accept level three and some level two complexity treatments, depending upon capacity at the time. Conclusions This investigation demonstrates that although the majority of NHS commissioning areas within England provide enhanced endodontic services, these are not the same across the country. Therefore, patients are not getting equal access to services and it may vary depending upon location.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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