Mobile dental unit launched in Leicestershire

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Published: Wednesday, 20 January 2010 07:19
Written by News Editor
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DentalXpress has just launched the first nationwide mobile dentistry service in the UK to improve acute access to dental care using a fleet of multi-clinic-room portable dental units. The organisation's mobile practice has opened its doors in Syston Leicestershire. It will remain open until April when the PCT is planning to open a practice in the town. The PCT has also started a county-wide campaign to encourage people to visit the dentist.


DentalXpress has just launched the first nationwide mobile dentistry service in the UK to improve acute access to dental care using a fleet of multi-clinic-room portable dental units. The organisation’s mobile practice provision means that it can operate efficiently and cost effectively across the whole of the United Kingdom and wherever a dental practice is needed, a DentalXpress mobile unit can be on the spot in a very short space of time, offering a reliable, high quality service.
DentalXpress spokesman Amarjit Gill explained the background to the foundation of the organisation: “The population of the UK is projected to rise to 67 million by 2031 and as NHS dentistry budgets decline, there is going to be even greater pressure on already limited resources, as funding is further stretched. Primary Care Trusts are constantly looking for innovative solutions and don’t want to invest in fixed practices at a cost of £500,000 to £750,000 if the demand for dentistry does not materialise.”
NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland is the first Primary Care Trust in the country to introduce the service and DentalXpress is currently in discussions with six further PCTs to launch similar services in their areas. Leicestershire will open the first DentalXpress practice in the Syston area of the county and aims to provide NHS dental care for 400 people a month.
DentalXpress is a social enterprise with an ethical principle to deliver lasting social change. Because of this commitment it will reinvest 75 per cent of any profits it makes delivering NHS dentistry back into expanding its service and is currently exploring ways it can expand its provision to serve schools, the armed forces, domiciliary care homes for the elderly, universities and the homeless
Each unit will be staffed by two to three dentists and three dental nurses and served by one receptionist who will work continuously throughout the day. There will be a computer and telephone booking system (with a freephone number) and confirmations will be offered via email and text.
Although this is not currently applicable for Leicester, the aim is to set up a DentalXpress service in each PCT area it serves for 4-6 weeks and return to each of these areas on a 4-6 weekly basis. The organisation is currently recruiting dentists locally to serve a particular community, which will help them build relationships with the patients they treat and local practices to which they will need to refer. The objective is that these dentists will work as self employed practitioners on a sessional basis and will be paid according to the number of patients they see, which should encourage them to build up a local following.
The dentists undertaking sessions for DentalXpress will be encouraged to join local Managed Clinical Networks, to liaise with other dental providers in the area to whom they may want to refer and establishing good local relationships. Dental nurses will be employed by the company and will work with the same dentist in pairings to encourage team building and each unit team will be completed by a receptionist.
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