Agenda item

Professor Tim Thompson will be in attendance to provide:

 

·        an overview of the wide range of free dental treatments offered by the University’s dental practice;

·        details of the restorative and preventive treatments offered by the University’s dental practice for adults and children;

·        information on how the University works with local dental practices; and

·        details of the patient referral process.

Professor Thompson, the Dean of the School of Health and Life Sciences, from Teesside University was in attendance to provide:

 

·        an overview of the wide range of free dental treatments offered by the University’s dental practice;

·        details of the restorative and preventive treatments offered by the University’s dental practice for adults and children;

·        information on how the University worked with local dental practices; and

·        details of the patient referral process.

 

The scrutiny panel heard that the School of Health and Life Sciences was the largest academic unit within Teesside University and comprised over 9500 students, of which 1200 were apprentices.  It was commented that the university offered:

 

·        a Cert HE in Dental Nurse Practice, 18 student places were available each year, 9 of which were commissioned by the NHS;

·        a undergraduate degree in Dental Hygiene, 45 student places were available each year; and

·        a postgraduate degree in Dental Therapy.

 

In 2023, the university had launched its Integrated Care Academy (ICA), which was an entity that wrapped around the school and functioned as a buffer between the academic offer to allow the community to better access the activities that occurred on campus. It was within the ICA, that the university’s clinical services were based.

 

The Student Dental Facility (SDF) within Teesside University had a focus on the oral health of the region and offered a wide range of dental treatments, including oral hygiene and dietary advice, routine scale and polish, and extensive periodontal treatments. The SDF provided a variety of restorative and preventive treatments for adults and children, utilising gold standard, evidence-based clinical practice.

 

It was advised that routine dental treatments were performed, however, the SDF did not perform the more complex treatments.

 

The SDF opened in its current format in 2020 and had been approved by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Prior to 2020, the university had its own dental service, which was ran by qualified dentists. However, it had been acknowledged that when operating that model, not enough placement opportunities were being created and not enough patients had been accessing the service.

 

Members heard that patients needed to be registered with a dentist to access the SDF, as treatments could only be provided under referral from an external dental practitioner. It was explained that once registered and referred by the dental practice, the SDF would perform the treatments required, freeing up capacity at the practice.

 

The scrutiny panel was advised that the SDF usually served 160 patients a week at full capacity (with a maximum of 360). Currently, the SDF was only accessible during term time.

 

By performing routine treatments, the SDF provided local dental practices with additional capacity/time to perform more complex treatments and activities.

 

It was highlighted that although local dental practices were referring patients to the SDF for routine treatments, those practices continued to benefit financially as they received the units of activity (UDA).

 

The following benefits of the SDF were outlined to the scrutiny panel:

 

·        local residents were able to access dental care for free, as there was no charge for patients treated by a student dental hygienist and dental therapist;

·        dental hygiene and dental therapy students were able to gain a valuable and comprehensive clinical experience; and

·        local dental practices retain UDA for those patients referred to the SDF.

 

The scrutiny panel was advised that the clinical services staffing structure was currently being reviewed, with an aim to enable the SDF to operate for 50 weeks per year.

 

Members heard that work was being undertaken to explore the possibility of having a single facility, which operated multiple clinics across the healthcare professions, allowing the university to offer a more holistic package of care. The possibility of offering a hub and spoke model was also being explored, to enable some clinical services to be offered in the community on either a permanent or pop-up basis.

 

In response to a Member’s query regarding unregistered patients accessing the SDF, the Professor advised that the SDF was limited in capacity, due to the restrictions imposed by professional bodies and the cap on the number of places that could be offered.

 

Members heard that there were certain dental practices operating across the region (Middlesbrough, Stockton and Darlington) that referred patients to the SDF for treatment.

 

A discussion ensued and Members commented that it would be advantageous for those residents experiencing problems with accessing NHS dental care to gain access to the routine treatments offered by the SDF. It was understood, however, that currently there was a requirement for the SDF to receive referrals direct from dental practices. It was commented that the possibility of patients being referred to the SDF by dental practices, without the need for patients to be formally registered at the practice, should be explored.

 

It was commented that the patient referrals received from dental practices would diagnose problems and identify an appropriate treatment plan. The referral process was required to ensure a fully-qualified dentist effectively signed-off the routine treatments that the SDF would perform.

 

It was explained that the university had an ambition to open a medical school within the region and the possibility of opening a dental school was currently being considered.

 

It was confirmed that the following areas would be explored by the university:

 

·        the reasons for the SDF currently operating a referral only offer; and

·        the possibility of operating a triage model, to improve accessibility.

 

A Member commented that a financial incentive for dental practices was that a dentist could refer the patient for treatment at the university before the routine check-up and still receive the UDAs. In response, the Professor explained that until a patient’s mouth had been examined, the dentist would be unable to predict whether routine treatments or more specialised treatments/procedures would be required.

 

A Member queried whether the clinical supervisors at the SDF were qualified to diagnose problems and identify treatment plans. In response, the Professor advised that the supervisors were qualified and trained dental hygienists and therapists, as opposed to dentists. It was commented that the potential of employing dentists at the SDF could be explored, however, that option would have a financial impact on the university. It was commented that the SDF was currently able to offer treatments for free, as part funding was received from placement tariffs and part was provided by student fees.

 

The Professor commented that Members were welcome to visit the SDF on campus.

 

Members commented on the importance of exploring options to overcome and address the current referral restrictions associated with the SDF, with an aim to improving accessibility for those experiencing problems with accessing NHS dental care.

 

AGREED

 

That the information presented at the meeting be considered in the context of the scrutiny panel's investigation.