Securing better waiting list data

Starting this month (August) NHS England will begin national data collection on waiting times for Community Dental Services (CDS).

In response to lobbying from the British Dental Association (BDA), NHS England has issued new guidance to ensure that data is collected at a national level on waiting times for assessment and treatment of vulnerable adults and children in CDS settings.

Historic data suggested that children and vulnerable adult patients could face year-long waits for treatment, in particular for extractions under general anaesthetic.

The BDA hopes this data will provide clarity regarding the access crisis facing the service and strengthen itsr case to decision makers regarding the need for significant investment in the CDS workforce.

Giten Dabhi, chairman of the England Community Dental Services Committee, said: “I know from the frontline that waiting times in the CDS are unacceptable, and this new data will turn that anecdote into fact.

“This is one of the key areas that we outlined in our ‘call to action’ to make sure community dentistry is finally given the priority it deserves.

“We asked for greater waiting list transparency on access to CDS services and that the data is published in the same format as other NHS services.

“This guidance is an important step forward and the data that will become available later this year will shine a light on year-long delays and enable us to press for substantive plans to address these backlogs.

“We welcome this first step on that journey.”