Anyone know anything about dental records?

thewonderer

Hi all,

Does anyone know if hospital recorded data, like height and weight, gets passed on to NHS dentists in anyway? Are they able to access that kind of information if you've had a recent (non-dental) hospital investigation? Like would it pop up on your file to say Patient X is 100kg and 180cm or would the dentist be able to see hospital records through their system?

Also, does anyone know if information one from one dentist get passed on to the next? Is a new dentist able to access hospital/GP medical records easily?

Thanks.

keithdc

thewonderer wrote: »

Hi all,

Does anyone know if hospital recorded data, like height and weight, gets passed on to NHS dentists in anyway? Are they able to access that kind of information if you've had a recent (non-dental) hospital investigation? Like would it pop up on your file to say Patient X is 100kg and 180cm or would the dentist be able to see hospital records through their system?

Also, does anyone know if information one from one dentist get passed on to the next? Is a new dentist able to access hospital/GP medical records easily?

Thanks.

Dentists don't have access to hospital/ GP records except where they may have referred a patient to a dental hospital/ GP and received a written reply as a response to that referral.

I'm unclear why it would concern you if they did have access.

worried_jim

Two people posing as the same patient? Sounds proper dodgy though.

Toothsmith

As Keithdc said - dentists aren't connected to the NHS records system used in hospital / GP practices.

Full dental records don't follow patients to a new practice either. Sometimes requests are put to previous practices for relevant x-rays or some aspect of recent dental treatment, but generally, if you go to a new dentist, they just begin from scratch.

If a dentist has a concern than some aspect of the patient's medical history might affect dental treatment, then we sometimes contact the GP or hospital consultant for more information or guidance.

thewonderer

Toothsmith wrote: »

If a dentist has a concern than some aspect of the patient's medical history might affect dental treatment, then we sometimes contact the GP or hospital consultant for more information or guidance.

Am I right in assuming t would take a bit of time to get medical history from a GP/hospital?

Would it be a hospital consultant that the patient saw for a condition they'd divulged to the dentist? Or is there someway for the dentist to see the consultant they saw most recently and approach them without the patient knowing?

Thanks to you and KeithDC for the insight.

brook2jack

Most queries about medical records and histories are sorted very quickly, very often with direct contact with a consultant etc . Dentists may contact many different people about a patients medical history, they do not need the patients express permission or knowledge to do so as safe dental treatment depends on an up to date and accurate medical history.

Many people do not divulge medical information they don't think is relevant , however many medications, medical problems do have a relevance and hiding or distorting medical information just leads to less safe dental care.

Dentists have seen it all and are bound to confidentiality so no one should have any concerns about disclosing their full medical history.

Toothsmith

When you go to the dentist anyway, a full medical history should be taken, and honestly given. It's in your best interests in order to receive safe, effective care. This history should be kept up-to-date at each visit. This would include any medical conditions you have, treatments received, medication taken, and any self medicated drugs or potions you might be taking.

If there is anything on it that the dentist needs more information on than you are able to give, then it is quite possible that they may ask you if they can contact your GP or a treating consultant for any clarification they need.

It is possible that if any healthcare professional has any concern over the wellbeing of a patient, they have a duty to bring it up with other healthcare providers involved with that patient to see if their concern might be part of a developing pattern.

This would really only be if abuse is suspected though, or impairment of cognitive functions.

No-one would contact a GP to request the height & weight of a patient as you mention in your OP. There's not really any time a dentist would need to know that. You can generally judge it when you see someone.

I had a query I wanted to have answered by a consultant of a patient the other day. I told him I'd be writing to the consultant, the patient agreed (But didn't have to sign anything to that effect) I wrote to the consultant, and had an answer back within about 10 days.

Toothsmith

Just crossed with Brooks post!!