An evaluation of paediatric dental general anaesthesia in Yorkshire and the Humber.
BACKGROUND
Following major change in UK policy regarding dental general anaesthesia (DGA) in 2001, there appears to be little information available about paediatric DGA services, their organisation, availability and utilisation.


OBJECTIVE
To establish the location, organisation and monitoring systems of paediatric DGA services in Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority and to audit these services against existing standards of best practice.


METHODS
A postal survey of all potential paediatric DGA providers in Yorkshire and the Humber.


RESULTS
Thirty-one possible DGA service providers were identified, 24 of which provided paediatric DGAs. Of 84 DGA lists identified, 75 regularly treated children, and nine were run on an ad hoc basis. The lists were held in 20 centres. The number of patients treated per list varied depending on treatment provided, ranging from 3.9 to 7.5 patients per list. Maximum waiting times varied from three to 84 weeks. Outcome data recording methods varied. Just over half of respondents used the Hospital Episode Statistics system; the remainder used other systems, or none.


CONCLUSIONS
There was much variation in how DGA lists were organised. Most lists met some of the accepted standards, but very few met all. Waiting times were largely in accordance with national targets.
Paediatric Dentistry, Division of Child Dental Health, Leeds Dental Institute, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9LU. aifric1@ireland.com
A
A
Ní Chaollaí
S
S
Robertson
T A
TA
Dyer
R C
RC
Balmer
S A
SA
Fayle
D000359:Aftercare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D019985:Benchmarking; D002391:Catchment Area, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019230:Dental Audit; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003796:Dental Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D013511:Minor Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D059039:Standard of Care; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014850:Waiting Lists