International recognition for Community Dentists
The Worcestershire Community Dental Team are full of smiles after winning a national prize for a service development launched to safeguard vulnerable patients.
Laura Rollings, Dental Officer for the Worcestershire Community Dental Services has been awarded the first prize in the Dental Surgery category at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSEd) conference held in Chennai, India in October this year.
Run by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, the Community Dental Service provides specialist NHS dental care for children and adults whose treatment needs cannot be met within a general dental practice.
The event brought together experts and specialists, from across the globe, to participate in and share their crucial expertise/knowledge and their modern research outcomes, to budding academics and scholars in their respective fields.
Laura said: “Together with Irena Twarowska, Dental Officer, and Sophie Hughes, Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, we have ensured that our service will be in line with the national standards of following up vulnerable patients that have not been brought to their dental appointment. The national protocol involves contacting the patient or carer within 24 hours of a missed appointment and may include writing to carers, social workers and GP's if no contact is received. This importantly ensures we safeguard our patients, and they have the opportunity to have vital oral care assessments and dental needs are met.”
“I had the opportunity to present our work at the RCSEd conference which was held in Chennai, India in October this year. I displayed a poster and delivered a talk about the project undertaken. I was thrilled to be awarded 1st prize in the Dental Surgery category, and to represent the great work that is carried out within the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust.”