Buckinghamshire
Priority Dental Service
A guide to our dental services for
new and existing patients
Welcome to Bucks Priority Dental Service. This leaflet contains information about our service, how to make an appointment and who to contact for further information or assistance. You can check one of the following sections to find the information you need:
· The Dental Team
· Services available
· Specialised services
· Appointment information
· Your rights and responsibilities
· Useful contacts, including for Out of Hours care.
v The Dental Team
Bucks Priority Dental Service employs dentists, dental nurses, dental therapists, oral health promoters, a dental diploma team and reception staff who will always aim to provide a high standard of care and service for patients.
The Clinical Director of Dental Services is Dr. J M Little and the Assistant Clinical Director is Dr. U Gorke. Mrs. N. Bell is the Operational Manager.
v Services available
“Hertfordshire and the South Midlands” and “Thames Valley” NHS Local Area Teams have agreed for BPDS to provide NHS services for Priority Patients, who live within their catchment area and who fit within the criteria listed below:
· Adults and children with learning disabilities.
· Adults and children with complex medical problems.
· Adults and children with severe mental health problems.
· Children with severe behavioural management problems.
· Adults with very severe anxiety and dental phobias.
Patients who fit the above criteria must also be unable to access their dental care from the General Dental Services.
For patients who pay NHS charges there are three standard charges for all NHS dental treatment. Dental treatment is allocated to one of three bands and the charge varies according to which band the treatment you have is in.
You will find posters in our waiting rooms which will show information about the cost of NHS treatment, or see the NHS website: www.nhs.uk.
v Specialised Services
We also provide the following specialist services – where appropriate; treatment with sedation or general anaesthesia and home visits.
All of our clinics are accessible to disabled patients but patients who require a ground floor surgery should initially try and obtain care with a general Dental Practitioner and only be referred to BPDS if there is no ground floor access within a reasonable distance. Some of the BPDS surgeries also have hoists for those who need help transferring to the dental chair.
v Receiving Treatment
Referral
If you require dental treatment you will need to be referred to our Service. This can be done by your GDP, GP, health or social care worker. Self-referrals will be accepted if it is not possible to obtain a referral from one of the other routes.
Reminders and recalls
At the end of your course of treatment, the BPDS dentist will discuss with you when you will need to have your next dental examination (which may not be with a Bucks PDS dentist). NHS dentists now follow guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). This means you will be advised to attend as often as is needed to keep your teeth and gums healthy and you may no longer need a check-up every six months.
Cancellations
If you are unable to keep your appointment please let us know as soon as possible (at least 24 hours notice) so that we can give the appointment to someone else. Missed appointments waste NHS time. If you miss more than 2 appointments, we may not be able to complete your treatment or offer you NHS care in the future and you may be referred back to your GDP.
v You are responsible for:
· Giving at least 1 weeks notice if you have to cancel or change an appointment. We will not charge you for missed appointments – but if you miss 2 appointments we may no longer be able to offer you treatment and you may be discharged from BPDS.
· Following your dentist’s advice to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
· Paying your bill promptly.
· Bringing proof of entitlement when claiming help with the cost of NHS treatment, if no proof of exemption is provided, then you will be asked to pay for any treatment. Patients found to have incorrectly claimed help with the cost of NHS dental treatment may receive a penalty charge.
· Treating our staff with courtesy and respect*.
*Please note – we may refuse to treat patients who are violent, abusive, or fail to pay their bills.
v Health Records
Health Records are a special form of personal data, access to which is strictly regulated by the Data Protection Act (1988) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990).
v Useful Contacts
If you would like to comment about any aspect of our service please contact:
Mrs. Natalie Bell
Operational Manager
Eaglestone Dental Clinic
Eaglestone Health Centre
Standing Way
Milton Keynes
MK6 5AZ
You can get support with making a complaint from:
· Your NHS dental clinic;
· The Complaints Manager, Milton Keynes Community Health Services, Hospital Campus, Standing Way, Eaglestone, Milton Keynes MK6 5NG ;
· Your local Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS);
· Citizens Advice;
· Website: www.nhs.uk.
Contact details for all clinics
· Clinics in Milton Keynes:
Mon – Fri: 8.45am – 4.45pm
(Closed for lunch 12.30pm – 1pm)
Eaglestone Dental ClinicEaglestone Health Centre
Standing Way
Milton Keynes
MK6 5AZ
' 01908 694599 / Shipley Court Dental Clinic
Shipley Court Health Centre
Marsh End Road
Newport Pagnell
Milton Keynes
MK16 8EA
' 01908 210874
Urgent Care Centre
MK Hospital Campus
Fleming Drive
Milton Keynes
MK6 5NG
' 01908 303034 / Neath Hill Dental Clinic
1 Tower Crescent
Neath Hill
Milton Keynes
MK14 6JY
' 01908 695332
Part time clinic
· Clinics in Aylesbury Vale:
Mon – Fri: 8.45am – 4.45pm
(Closed for lunch 12.30pm – 1pm)
Brookside Dental ClinicStation Way East
Aylesbury
Bucks
HP20 2SR
' 0844 225 2411 / Bedgrove Dental Clinic
Camborne Centre
Jansel Square
Aylesbury
Bucks
HP21 7ET
' 01296 395113
Part time clinic
Buckingham Dental Clinic
Buckingham Hospital
High Street
Buckingham
MK18 1NU
' 01280 823693
Part time clinic
· Clinics in South Buckinghamshire:
Mon – Fri: 8.45am – 4.45pm
(Closed for lunch 12.30pm – 1pm)
Oakridge Dental ClinicOakridge Health Centre
240 Desborough Road
High Wycombe
Bucks
HP11 2QR
' 0844 225 2406 / Amersham Dental Clinic
Amersham Health Centre
Chiltern Avenue
Amersham
Bucks
HP6 5AY
' 01494 434605
Part time clinic
Marlow Dental Clinic
Marlow Health Centre
Glade Road
Marlow
Bucks
SL7 1DJ
' 01628 471348
Part time clinic
Out of Hours care
If you need urgent dental treatment between the hours of:
Mon – Fri: 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Sat/Sun/Bank Hols: 9am – 5pm
You can telephone NHS Direct on 111
For healthy teeth:
· Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
· Keep sugary foods and drinks to meal times only.
· Keep to a minimum the amount of sugar you eat and drink each day.
· Visit your dentist regularly.
Your Information
Keep a note of all important dental information:
Name of Dentist: ______
Address of Dentist:______
______
Postcode: ______
Telephone: ______
Date of last visit: ______
Notes: ______
______
Author: Bucks Priority Dental Service Version No: 7Date Produced: December 2010 Review Date: May 2013
Page 1 of 7