Scottish Dental Practice Based Research Network

Background: The General Dental Services (GDS) contract of 1990 formalised the provision of emergency, out-of-hours treatment for NHS patients. If contacted outside normal surgery hours by a registered patient the GDP is required to offer advice and reassurance by telephone or to reopen the surgery. If seen out of hours, the GDP is paid a recalled dental attendance fee for re-opening the surgery at no cost to the patient. At present, for non-registered patients in Tayside, an emergency dental service (EDS) clinic runs at Ninewells Hospital over weekends and public holidays. During working hours on weekdays they can attend the Dental Hospital in Dundee. There is no dedicated outof-hours dental provision for non-registered patients in Tayside. Throughout the region these people may also be seen by local Community Dental Offcers (CDOs), dental/medical practitioners, or at the A&E dept at Ninewells Hospital or Perth Royal Infirmary. Aim: The aim of this project is to compare two different models of delivery of emergency (out-of-hours) dental treatment, and suggest which would be more cost effective and appropriate to the providers of this service. Objectives: The project's objectives are to:1. Compare the cost of two strategies: o The current situation. o A proposed model whereby all emergency treatment for both registered and non-registered patients is provided at a central point. 2. Assess the opinion of the service providers and users towards these models. Methods: • Demographic picture of Tayside. Obtained from Scottish Dental Practice Board (SDPB) and Dental Health Services Research Unit (DHSRU). • Cost of current system identified from data from SDPB annual reports, Management Information and Dental Accounting Systems (MIDAS). • Cost of alternative strategy, estimated from projections of fixed and variable costs, of providing a service from a central point. • A short postal questionnaire to obtain the current practice of patients and GDPs and their opinions towards a dedicated service.