The targeted dental access and oral health improvement pathway has been developed to support children living within deprived ‘Core 20’ areas of deprivation. Currently the following local authority areas; Barrow, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Burnley, Chorley, Hyndburn, Kendal, Lancaster, Pendle, Preston, Rossendale, West Lancashire (Skelmersdale/Ormskirk) and Wyre (Fleetwood/Cleveleys).
This priority pathway offers an enhanced and high-quality model for children across Lancashire and South Cumbria. It is based on key commissioning principles, standards and a specification which reflects statutory guidance and best practice in relation to reducing inequalities in oral health and access to dental care.
Key points:
- The age range is for any child of school age (up to 16 years and 364 days)
- Dental practices may accept ‘walk-ins’ or direct approaches
- Dental practices will be encouraged and supported to connect with wider health, social care, community and voluntary stakeholders to promote this service
- Dental practices have been asked to prioritise referrals
- A referral can be made is by a simple form, which is emailed to the central referral service provided by Fylde Coast Medical Services (FCMS).
- Children will be routed to the nearest participating general dental practice, based on their home address.
- Once a referral is received, this will be forwarded to the dental practice who will then make contact with the child’s parent/caregiver to arrange an appointment in due course.
Referral criteria:
- Children aged 0-16 years at time of referral (e.g. up to 16 years and 364 days).
- This is only for children without current access to a regular dentist.
- This service is not for any other family member outside of the age range.
- Please note this pathway is for routine care, and not an urgent care referral service.
Lancashire and South Cumbria – children’s specialist pathway advice for carers
Carers of children referred on to specialist paediatric dentistry services
Sometimes children need dental treatment which cannot be provided here. In these cases, your child will be referred onto another NHS service run by specialists with additional facilities, equipment and training. Your dentist will give you a reference number which can be inputted into https://dental-referrals.org/patients/track-a-referral/
Please note some important information:
- Your first visit will almost always be an assessment - a parent, foster carer or someone who holds parental responsibility as directed by a court should attend. If this person does not speak English with sufficient understanding, then an interpreter can be arranged. Family members or friends cannot assist when signing forms so please make sure the dentist making the referral knows about this
- Although emergency treatment is occasionally provided in rare circumstances most of the time there will be NO TREATMENT PROVIDED - so please don’t' starve your child.
- If you have a regular general dentist, they will still see you for routine and emergency care before and after (in some situations this may be shared with a specialised service)
- If you have further problems, then please let your dentist or the emergency dentist know you've been referred and then they can update the specialist service with this information and if required speed up your referral.
- You may be seen at a different site than the one you were referred to, please read the letter you receive from the service carefully, so you end up in the right place.
