Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

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E vidence gathered in the recent Office of Fair Trading report, has sug- gested “that dental patients are largely satisfied with the ser- vices provided by their dentist.” However, the report has also highlighted some areas for im- provement. The OFT study found that patients have insufficient infor- mation to make informed deci- sions about their choice of den- tist and the dental treatments they receive; it also stated the complexity of the complaints process for patients, instances of potential pressure selling by dentists of dental payment plans and the need for accu- rate and timely information for patients. The OFT is calling on NHS commissioning bodies, the General Dental Council and the Care Quality Commission to be proactive in enforcing existing rules which require dentists and dental practices to provide timely, clear and accurate infor- mation to patients about prices and available dental treatments. The report also raised suffi- cient concerns about continued restrictions preventing patients from directly accessing dental care professionals, such as hy- gienists, without a referral from a dentist. The report considered these restrictions to be highly unjustified, and the OFT have responded by urging the Gen- eral Dental Council (GDC) to remove restrictions preventing patients from making appoint- ments to see dental hygienists, dental therapists and clinical dental technicians directly, as soon as possible. The OFT report also high- lighted concerns with the cur- rent NHS dental contracts in England and stated how it is ex- tremely difficult for new dental practices to be established and how successful dental practic- es, which offer a higher qual- ity of service to NHS patients, are prevented from expanding. As a result, the OFT has urged the Department of Health to re- design the NHS dental contract to facilitate easier entry into the market by new dental practices and allow successful practices to expand. John Fingleton, OFT Chief Executive said: “Our study has raised significant concerns about the UK dentistry market which need to be tackled quick- ly in the interest of patients. All too often patients lack access to the information they need, for example when choosing a dentist or when getting dental treatment. We also unearthed evidence that some patients may be receiving deliberately inaccurate information about their entitlement to NHS den- tal treatment, and we expect to see robust action taken against such potential misconduct by dentists. “This study has also high- lighted that the current NHS dental contract in England may well not be working in the best interests of patients, and that regulations unjustifiably restrict patients from getting direct ac- cess to dental care professionals like hygienists. Reform in both these areas is needed without delay.” In response to the report, Dr Susie Sanderson, Chair of the BDA’s Executive Board, said: “Where patients do have concerns about their care, it is clearly important that they have an effective complaints process. This is helpful for dentists and patients alike and dentists sup- port the goal of making the pro- cess as simple as possible. “Also crucial is the develop- ment of a new dental contract which is already under way in England. In piloting and design- ing those new arrangements Government must ensure that it provides clarity about what the NHS offers and properly sup- ports practitioners in providing the kind of modern, preventive care that our patients deserve.” Dr Nigel Carter Chief Execu- tive of the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) said in response to the OFT report: “Whilst we welcome the report and the fact it recognises the need for change in certain ar- eas, some of the findings are June 4 -10, 2012 VOL. 6 NO. 15 Patient swallows toothbrush A recent report has told how a 24-year-old was repeatedly turned away by doctors as she tried to convince them that she had swallowed her 9 1/2-inch toothbrush. Ac- cording to reports, it took two visits to two separate hospitals in northern Israel before Bat-El Panker, 24, of Kiryat Yam, was able to con- vince a doctor that she had in fact accidentally swallowed her green, white and orange toothbrush while brush- ing her teeth. The report said that the toothbrush had slipped down her throat as she bent over to drink some water whilst the brush was still in her mouth. Accord- ing to reports, the plastic toothbrush did not show up on X-rays, which lead doc- tors at the first hospital to send her home. “I begged for another exam. I knew I’d swallowed a big toothbrush, but no one believed me,” she was quoted in one report. “They thought I was crazy.” Eventually doctors at Car- mel Hospital believed her, however the toothbrush still failed to show on an X-ray or ultrasound. The toothbrush was finally located it in her stomach thanks to a sophis- ticated CT scan, and doc- tors were able to remove the toothbrush without resorting to surgery by coaxing it up the oesophagus with a diag- nostic endoscope. www.dental-tribune.co.uk Hyperpigmentation Using the diode laser The art of listening Mhari Coxon discusses listening techniques News in Brief Clinical DCPsNews Drawing the line GP’s refuse CQC fees page 6 pages 22-23 pages 25-27 Satisfied, but not enough Office of FairTrading (OFT) report makes recommendations to free patients from restriction of dentist referral page 6DT ß STOP PRESS Clinical Innovations Conference 2012 Ground-breaking event in London See pages 2-5 for further details Infection control Clean and safe Dr Zimmerman discusses the meaning of sterile pages 16-18