Special Care and Paediatric Dental Services

Description

Special Care and Paediatric Dental Services provide essential dental care for patients who cannot be treated in general dental practice due to complexity. Special Care Dentistry focuses on individuals with additional needs, such as physical or learning disabilities, complex medical conditions, severe mental health issues, sensory impairments, or extreme dental anxiety. These patients often require tailored treatment plans, longer appointments, and specialist facilities, including sedation or general anaesthetic (GA) options. Care is delivered in community clinics, hospitals, and sometimes domiciliary settings for housebound patients, ensuring equitable access for vulnerable groups. Paediatric Dentistry provides specialist care for children with advanced or complex dental needs, including extensive tooth decay, developmental anomalies, dental trauma, and cases requiring sedation or GA. These services are delivered by specialist paediatric dentists in hospital or community settings and emphasise early intervention, prevention, and family education. Both services are critical in reducing health inequalities and supporting integration with wider health and social care pathways. The contract to be awarded to SASH includes provision of Domiciliary services within this contract. Lot 1: Special Care and Paediatric Dental Services provide essential dental care for patients who cannot be treated in general dental practice due to complexity. Special Care Dentistry focuses on individuals with additional needs, such as physical or learning disabilities, complex medical conditions, severe mental health issues, sensory impairments, or extreme dental anxiety. These patients often require tailored treatment plans, longer appointments, and specialist facilities, including sedation or general anaesthetic (GA) options. Care is delivered in community clinics, hospitals, and sometimes domiciliary settings for housebound patients, ensuring equitable access for vulnerable groups. Paediatric Dentistry provides specialist care for children with advanced or complex dental needs, including extensive tooth decay, developmental anomalies, dental trauma, and cases requiring sedation or GA. These services are delivered by specialist paediatric dentists in hospital or community settings and emphasise early intervention, prevention, and family education. Both services are critical in reducing health inequalities and supporting integration with wider health and social care pathways. These services are commissioned together because they share similar characteristics and infrastructure requirements. Both require dentists with advanced training and overlapping clinical skills, such as managing complex medical conditions and delivering treatment under sedation or GA. They are typically delivered in the same clinical environments, which avoids duplication of facilities and resources. Combining the services under one contract supports efficiency, integration, and streamlined referral pathways, while simplifying commissioning and monitoring processes. This approach ensures consistent standards and equitable access across Surrey Heartlands. The contract to be awarded to SASH includes provision of Domiciliary services within this contract. It is intended to award a contract to an existing provider following direct award process C from 01/04/2026 - 31/03/2028. The lifetime value of the contract is £503,229.14. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.