Which patients can be referred?

Please see referral pathway page

Benefits of referring:

While the vast majority of patients with disability, medical or mental health conditions receive a lifetime of excellent care from their local dentist, those with needs at the severe end of the spectrum sometimes require care that is outside the scope of General Dental Practice.

A referral to the Special Care Dental Service (SCDS):

• enables the patient to be seen by a specialist with relevant expertise and facilities
• enables best use of clinical time
• ensures that any risk of treatment complications is managed

Once treatment is complete, patients will be returned to their General Dental Practitioner for continuing care where it is appropriate to do so. This may be on a shared care basis where the practitioner provides basic care and refers to the SCDS for more extensive treatment or sedation.

Making a referral:

Download a referral form. This should be completed and returned:

By fax:   0121 465 2929

By mail:  SCD Team Office, Stockland Green Primary Care Centre, 192 Reservoir Road, Erdington, Birmingham  B23 6DJ

By email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (NB.due to data protection legal requirements, any patient identifiable clinical information sent from any email address other than those with an nhs.net account should be encrypted).

Practitioners often tell us how important it is for them to know what happens to their patient following referral. We will send:

• an acknowledgement of receipt of referral within 2 working days. This will state the waiting time for how long the patient will be waiting for an assessment appointment.
• a letter on the outcome of any treatment provided with advice on future management and continuing care.
• If there is a particular reason why you would like to be informed about the planned treatment or timescale following assessment, please state this on the referral form and we will write to you with this information also