A report published  by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) highlights that out-of-hours emergency dental services in Scotland are meeting national standards.

NHS QIS reviewed individual NHS boards in Scotland to assess the way that emergency dental services are provided out-of-hours and found that all NHS boards have emergency out-of-hours services in place.

NHS QIS reviewed the performance of NHS boards against three key standards for out-of-hours emergency dental care:

• Accessibility and availability at first point of contact;
• Safe and effective care;
• Audit, monitoring and reporting.

The report makes three key recommendations:

• Guidance and best practice "“ Dentists need to be supported through training programmes to enhance awareness of current guidance and best practice;
• Key performance indicators "“ Develop appropriate, quantifiable national measures to monitor and improve services;
• Self-management and information "“ Promotion of good oral health and awareness of the appropriate use of out-of-hours emergency dental services.

Speaking of the report, Jan Warner, Director of Patient Safety and Performance Assessment for NHS QIS, said: "Good dental care is critical to our quality of life. It is clear that NHS boards have put a lot of work into establishing out-of-hours emergency services and these are now in place across Scotland."

Download a copy of the report