Public opinion
eeth: Patient Views of General Dental Services in Northern Irelandpublished by the Patient and Client Council. The Patient and Client
cerns that the public have about general dental services, accord- ing to a report entitled T T
Council provides a powerful independent voice on health and social care for patients, clients, carers and communi- ties by: • listening and acting on people’s views
• encouraging people to get involved
• helping people make a complaint and,
• providing advice and information. Regular dental care is important as dental health is an indicator of all round health. It is not just about being free
14 Ireland’s Dental magazine
Talking teeth A
ccess to high street dental services and the cost of treatment are the main con-
alking
from pain because of dental decay, but it also touches on self- esteem, confidence and affects what can be eaten. Dental care can also assist in the early detection of mouth cancers. It is a service that is central to health and social care, but one that is often overlooked. Acting on evidence that the public was experiencing difficulties in registering with dental practices, the Patient and Client Council undertook a survey of dental practices in June 2009 which confirmed that across Northern Ireland there was variable access to general dental services and that the use of registration criteria was common. This indicated to the Patient and Client Council there
was the potential for some sections of the community to be disadvantaged. The current report allowed the Patient and Client Council to explore this further by: • understanding patient perception of general dental services • identifying the extent and nature of perceived concerns regarding these services. It is important to talk to people about dental care, as there are a number of related developments. Northern Ireland Minister for
Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Michael McGimpsey, has made an addi- tional investment of £17 million for general dental services to
“The economic recession has the potential to change public demand for private dental care”
The Patient and Client Council surveyed hundreds of patients to get their views on the standard of dental services in Northern Ireland
ease problems of access; the full impact of this investment has yet to be realised. • The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is negotiating a new gen- eral dental contract with the British Dental Association • The economic recession has the potential to change public demand for private dental care, thereby freeing up capacity in the general dental system for NHS (HSC) work. The Patient and Client
Council has presented findings to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and relevant health and social care organisa- tions to help ensure that the voice of the patient influences decision making. The Patient and Client
Council spoke to 761 members of the public between May and July, to gather their views and experiences of dental services in Northern Ireland. A combination of techniques for
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