Journal of the British Society of Special Care Dentistry
April 2025
Volume: 25
Issue: 1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.63507/EMYW8320
Title: Opinion piece: Bridging gaps in special care dentistry: lessons from an NHS and independent sector partnership
Author: Emanuel R, Raveendran B
Abstract:
Liaison between the NHS and the independent sector has helped support successive governments’ mission to reduce waiting lists and waiting times for operations within the NHS and these partnerships have been utilised by many different surgical specialities, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Utilising independent sector providers arguably came to the fore during the pandemic when the increased focus on infection control and the need for ‘fallow time’ after aerosol generating procedures (AGP) meant that the availability of operating time was reduced. This had a major negative impact on waiting times. Following the pandemic, the NHS continued to experience challenges with the backlog for elective surgery which has meant that working in partnership with the independent sector has become mainstream.
The independent sector has played a significant role in delivering NHS-funded elective procedures over the last two decades. Between 2020 and 2021 approximately 5.2% of NHS elective procedures were performed in independent hospitals compared to approximately 0.02% in 2003 to 2004. This highlights that the transition of NHS-funded elective procedures to the independent sector was successful even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Articles from BSSCD Journal 25-1