You will be aware that a new Dental Referral Management Service (RMS) is in place across East of England to support a pathway for oral surgery and UDC referrals following a recent procurement process. We would like to take this opportunity to thank those who were interested or took part.
NHS England and NHS Improvement – East of England would like to inform you that this is a 1 year pilot, Level 2 Endodontic and Periodontic NHS dental service and will serve our patient population via the 6 STP areas (Mid & South Essex, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire & West Essex, Norfolk & Waveney, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and Suffolk and North East Essex). The Restorative Dentistry Managed Clinical Network (MCN) has been working in triangulation with us and our RMS to support patients being referred to the most appropriate clinical service. The RMS will control the flow of referrals and signpost patients to the closest provider to the patients address
After receiving the last of the signed contracts this week, we are delighted to share with you the providers and locations of each service:
Beds, Luton and Milton Keynes
Sab Bhandal - Houghton Regis Dental Centre, LU5 5BJ (Perio)
Luton Dental Centre, LU1 2QR (Perio)
Herts and West Essex
Dr Amit Rai - Epping Dental, CM16 4BA (Perio and Endo)
Suffolk and North East Essex
Prof Nick Barker - Bromley Road Dental Surgery, CO4 3JE (Perio and Endo)
The Level 2 Restorative service commenced via the RMS 1 April 2021 and will it be in place until 31 March 2022. With immediate effect all referrals into the Level 2 pathway must be submitted electronically via RMS e-referral system. This is the same method as those used for referrals into oral surgery.
Please note there are no changes to Level 3 Providers. Clinical pathways remain exactly the same. All referrals for Level 3 must be submitted in the usual way
To ensure a full transition to this system and support the restorative providers who will be receiving referrals, the service will adopt the approach already in place for some other referral services.
The electronic referral pro-forma and referral guidance has been agreed by the Restorative Dentistry Managed Clinical Network, as a tool to support dentists and to ensure that referrals are dealt with quickly and efficiently.
Level 2 Referral Criteria/ Guidance for Referrers will be found at www.dental-referrals.org . Please use the “Level 2 Restorative Referral Form” on your dashboard.
Should you have any queries about the referral process please contact the dental referral management helpdesk team d.referrals@nhs.net.
Please find documents attached with additional information regarding referral criteria for both periodontics and endodontics (also available among the guidance documents on this site).