Urgent Dental Care Pathway for vulnerable groups

Patient pathway for dental/oral health issues 

The Urgent Dental Care and Stabilisation (UDCS) programme is operating across ‘high street’ primary dental practices in Sussex. This service offers additional service capacity to the Sussex population for urgent dental needs alongside subsequent treatment to improve oral health where indicated.
The UDCS programme was piloted across ten practices from March 2024 and is undergoing a significant expansion phase from January 2025. It will continue until at least 31 March 2025.

The UDCS pathway:

• provides access to urgent dental care for anyone unable to access a dental appointment for urgent dental issues
• is intended for patients without access to a regular dentist and those who are struggling to get an urgent appointment with their regular dentist, and
• also offers appointments to patients from identified vulnerable groups, who require an urgent assessment of their oral health.

Vulnerable patient access pathways enabled for:

• Clinically vulnerable patients (including those on bisphosphonate medication, immunosuppressed and patients requiring dental assessment / fitness to commence oncology or cardiology treatment)
• Looked after children and care leavers
• Care home residents (able to access the practice)
• Homeless people
• Vulnerable migrants (asylum seekers and refugees)
• Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

Patients seen within UDCS sessions will:

• receive a full assessment
• be offered the necessary treatment required to manage pain and resolve immediate issues, and
• be offered any additional courses of treatment identified to stabilise their oral health through addressing underlying issues.

Direct referrals to sites are enabled. The primary route for referrals/signposting is via the Sussex Dental Helpline (details below).

Signposting to Sussex Dental Helpline / NHS111

UDCS pathways are being managed by the Sussex Dental Helpline. Patients should be signposted to contact the Helpline team directly to access the dental care they need, as quickly and conveniently as possible. They can book patients into appointment slots directly.
The ICB is keen to raise public awareness of the helpline – as the go-to option for patients with urgent (not emergency) dental needs (over NHS111, Out of Hours dental services and A&E). The Helpline team have the latest information on the availability of NHS dental services and any additional capacity being provided, including UDCS sessions.
NHS111 / NHS Pathways have access to UDCS practice details but are signposting to the helpline where possible.
Sussex Dental Helpline can be contacted on 0300 123 1663 between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday or by email to [email protected]

Referral to practice / Sussex Dental Helpline

The attached table may be copied and pasted into an email to the Sussex Dental Helpline or UDCS practice nhs.net email address where known.
The details below are all relevant and help support timely and effective patient triage, but a referral may be made with lesser information.
This form may be completed by a health or social care professional or other patient representative, e.g. member of NHS patient liaison team or Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisation.
Patient details and criteria to be emailed to the Sussex Dental Helpline team on [email protected]

Referral Form: UDCS-referral-form