Enter & View: Listening, Observing, Improving

Recommendation:

Fostering open and transparent communication with patients around accessing emergency dental appointments could be beneficial.

Response from provider:

We have now drafted correspondence detailing our current situation and providing details on the process to follow if patients have a dental emergency. This will be sent in due course. Moving forward we will provide regular updates.

Recommendation:

Ensure that a hearing loop is accessible, fully charged and clearly signposted.

Response from provider:

We have purchased a hearing loop for reception desks and the front desk team have now been instructed in its use.

Recommendation:

Display safeguarding information clearly though out the practice, guiding patients where to go if they have concerns

Response from provider:

Display safeguarding information clearly though out the practice, guiding patients where to go if they have concerns

Recommendation:

Enhance accessibility by providing easy-read materials, including forms for requesting appointments, to support patients who may struggle with literacy.

Response from provider:

We will continue to make ease of access a priority within the practice. We will work on providing more easy-read materials and are exploring with our local ICB an in-practice portal for patients without internet access. 

Recommendation:

Although the hub is by referral only, increasing awareness of the hub and other activities run by the psychology team may encourage more patients to seek the help they need if they know there is support available.

Response from provider:

We acknowledge the need to increase patient awareness of the HUB. To this end, we have recently created a dedicated Facebook page and are sharing posters about the various services available. Additionally, our new website, which is set to launch in early April, will feature a section dedicated to the HUB, further improving accessibility for our patients.