Delivering the 18 Weeks Referral to Treatment Standard Output Report

• Analyse referral practices and consider teaching and practicalsessions for GDPs with routine procedures with which theymay lack confidence.• Manage DNA rates e.g. text messaging reminders.• Promote, where appropriate ‘see and treat’ services.Cultural • Assure a high organisational profile for dental specialties.• Reinforce, culturally, that all Dental Specialties are part of 18weeks RTT, including all treatments undertaken in anoutpatient setting.• Ensure strong high level leadership to support developmentsto secondary care dental services, with a strong culturalexpectation of delivery.Workforce • Review roles and competencies of dental specialties’ multidisciplinary teams• The design of a patient pathway should be used to determinethe skills, competencies and roles required. The demand, andtherefore capacity required, at each stage in the patientpathway needs to be quantified.• Consider increased use of enhanced roles (under protocolwhere appropriate) to free up consultant time.• Use the Chief Dental Officer’s Workforce Review to underpinworkforce development plans locally and nationally.Communication • Sharing good practice e.g. via Managed Clinical Networks.• Consider adopting practices from the ‘Who is Doing What’matrix and liaising with Boards to ascertain best practices andhow to avoid pitfalls.Dental Specialties Task & Finish Group – January 2011 40