THE TRANSFER OF CHILD PATIENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY DENTAL SERVICE TO THE GENERAL DENTAL SERVICE

Objective To determine an effective strategy for the transfer of child ren from the CDS to the GDS. Design Single centre study comprising a r etrospective analysis of a 50% random sample of dental records for chi ldren transferred from CDO to GDP. Setting Community dental clinic in an urban area of south Manchester with relatively little material depr ivation. Subjects and methods Between 1990 and 1995, a GDP worked up t o 5 hours a week in the CDS clinic seeing routine child patients refer red by the CDO. Main outcome measures Numbers of children registered w ith a GDP after varying periods of time. Attendance records of childre n transferred from CDS to GDS and rates of failed appointments. Result s After 4 1/2 years, 264 child patients had been registered with the G DP under capitation and a further 55 adults were registered under cont inuing care. The majority of children had retained registration for mo re than 2 1/2 years. The mean rate of failed appointments was 16%. Con clusion Children can be transferred successfully from the CDS to the G DS if the GDP works at the community clinic and there are further bene fits which accrue to the scheme.