NHS Health Checks in a primary care dental setting - an opportunity for the profession to maximise uptake for public health partners?
This opinion piece considers an opportunity for primary dental care practitioners to work in partnership with public health teams to maximise the uptake of the NHS Health Check. Public Health England and Local Authority partners remain committed to offering the NHS Health Check to those aged 40-74 years old. The programme previously explored alternative points of delivery - such as community pharmacists. This piece discusses and reflects on the efforts within Manchester to use skill mix in primary dental care services and widen access to target individuals eligible for an NHS Health Check. The pilot schemes in Manchester illustrated the willingness and enthusiasm for primary care dentists to embrace change and work alongside new partners to deliver patient benefit beyond the provision of dental care. However, substantial barriers to implementation prevented the desired level of progress.
Speciality Registrar/Honourary Lecturer in Dental Public Health, University of Manchester School of Dentistry, JR Moore Building, Manchester, M13 9PL.
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McGrady
Public Health Nurse Specialist, Public Health Manchester, PO Box 532, Town Hall Extension, Manchester, M60 2LA.
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Pickford
General Dental Practitioner and Chair of NHS England Greater Manchester Local Dental Network, 4th Floor, 3 Piccadilly Place, London Road Manchester, M1 3BN.
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Hawthorn
National Lead - NHS Health Check and Blood Pressure Programme, Public Health England Health and Wellbeing Directorate, 2nd Floor, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London, SE1 6LH.
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Waterall
Consultant in Dental Public Health Public Health England, 4th Floor, 3 Piccadilly Place, London Road, Manchester, M1 3BN.
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Bridgman
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003729:Dental Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*