Practice policy NHS practice patient list 

Practice policy NHS practice patient list

At Family Dental Care, it is our policy that patients must attend regularly to retain their NHS dental place. Since the introduction of the current dental contract in 2006, patient registration has ceased, whereas previously, registration lasted for 18 months.

We understand that patients seek certainty and assurance regarding their dental treatment and are mindful of the associated costs. Therefore, we offer NHS care to patients for up to two years from their last dental examination. This period aligns with NHS NICE guidance on dental examination recalls, which recommends that no more than two years should elapse between examinations.

The two-year period is crucial for maintaining a sustainable business model, allowing us to continue offering NHS care to patients who attend regularly. This approach helps prevent sudden withdrawal of NHS care due to funding shortfalls.

NHS funding for dentistry is allocated based on an activity target that we must achieve annually to ensure continued funding. Failure to meet this target can result in a withdrawal of funding. Additionally, we are required to provide dental care evenly throughout the year, necessitating a steady flow of patients. Given the limited funding, we prioritise care for patients who attend regularly. If capacity allows, we may accept a limited number of new NHS patients during the year.

We strive to send regular reminders for dental examinations via letters, emails, and text messages. However, we cannot guarantee that every patient will receive these reminders. Therefore, it is the responsibility of each patient to ensure they attend regularly or within the two-year period to maintain access to NHS dental care.

Date:01/04/24

Review date: 01/04/25