title: The transfer of child patients from the community dental service to the general dental service.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine an effective strategy for the transfer of children from the CDS to the GDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single centre study comprising a retrospective analysis of a 50% random sample of dental records for children transferred from CDO to GDP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community dental clinic in an urban area of south Manchester with relatively little material deprivation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1990 and 1995, a GDP worked up to 5 hours a week in the CDS clinic seeing routine child patients referred by the CDO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Numbers of children registered with a GDP after varying periods of time. Attendance records of children transferred from CDS to GDS and rates of failed appointments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 4 1/2 years, 264 child patients had been registered with the GDP under capitation and a further 55 adults were registered under continuing care. The majority of children had retained registration for more than 2 1/2 years. The mean rate of failed appointments was 16%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children can be transferred successfully from the CDS to the GDS if the GDP works at the community clinic and there are further benefits which accrue to the scheme.
authors.affiliation: Community Dental Health, Mancunian Community Health (NHS) Trust, Mauldeth House, Manchester.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Boye
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baggett
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002204:Capitation Fee; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003149:Community Dentistry; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003792:Dental Records; D004739:England; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D010360:Patient Transfer; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013222:State Medicine; D019037:Urban Health Services