DENTALINE - AN OUT-OF-HOURS EMERGENCY DENTAL SERVICE IN KENT

Following wide consultation in 1991 on how to meet the requirement for out-of-hours emergency service provision, Kent Family Health Services Authority established three emergency dental clinics. The sites chose n were in or adjacent to District General Hospital Accident and Emerge ncy Departments. Local dentists were contracted to provide a service e ach evening and also weekend and bank holiday mornings. Activity is re ported for the three and a quarter year period from October 1991 to De cember 1994 with 300 dentists operating a rota to attend the clinics t o provide 'occasional treatment' for all-comers. Drugs, if required, a re dispensed directly and, where appropriate, NHS charges levied. On a verage, each operator works once every 3 months.