THIS joint initiative of the National Dental Advisory Committee (NDAC). Supported by
NHS Education for Scotland (NES), will enable improvements in the quality of dental
care by providing user-friendly guidance in specific topics identified as priorities
for dentistry in Scotland.
Chair of the National Dental Advisory Committee, Professor Jeremy Bagg, said: “The
launch of this first clinical guidance document, in sedation, represents a
significant step in the evolution of the Clinical Effectiveness Programme. I hope
that dentists in Scotland will find the individual guidance documents, which are
designed to be practical and easily accessible, to be valuable tools supporting
enhancement of standards of clinical care in dental practice.”
The Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme was established in 2004 with funding
from the Chief Dental Officer for Scotland. Since then, its initial undertaking has
been to develop guidance in seven key clinical areas. The first to reach completion
is ‘Conscious Sedation in Dentistry’.
Many patients are anxious about attending for
dental treatment. Conscious sedation is one option to help manage their anxiety.
To be provided safely and effectively, clear guidance and specialist training is
necessary for all members of the dental teams involved with patients receiving
treatment with conscious sedation. This new publication presents recommendations on
all aspects of provision of sedation for dental treatment, including patient
referral and preparation, facilities and aftercare.
Dr Jim Rennie, NES Dean for Postgraduate Dental Education, said: “NES is
delighted to support this Programme and to see the first guidance published and is
certain that the information produced by the robust evidence based approach will
provide an valuable quality improvement resource.”
Other topics for which guidance is currently being developed by the Programme
include drug prescribing, the provision of emergency dental care and the
decontamination of dental instruments.
With its focus on facilitating the adoption of new thinking and research evidence in
dental practice, the work of the Clinical Effectiveness Programme is contributing to
the implementation of the Scottish Executive’s Dental Action Plan which aims to both
modernise dental services and improve oral health in Scotland. Further information
on the work on the Programme is available on its website:
www.scottishdental.org/cep/
The launch takes place at 12.30pm in Lecture Theatre 1 on Level 2 of Glasgow Dental
Hospital and School, 378 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow, You are welcome to send a
photographer/reporter.
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Notes to Editors
NES is a Special Health Board formed on 1 April 2002. Its role is to ensure
improved patient care by empowering Scotland’s healthcare workforce through
education, training and lifelong learning. Its remit currently includes Allied
Health Professionals, Audiologists, Clinical Psychologists, Dentists, Doctors,
Healthcare Scientists, Midwives, Nurses, and Pharmacists. Eventually this will
encompass all healthcare staff, with early work for Administrative and Clerical
Staff, ancillary as well as, Finance, Estates and Environment Staff. NES is
responsible for the educational implementation of the Executive Dental Action Plan.
YOU too can post a media release on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Further information from: Dr Douglas A. Stirling, Senior Researcher, NDAC Clinical Effectiveness Programme: Tel: 01382 635994 (or 425751); email: Douglas.Stirling@nes.scot.nhs.uk
