A service review of a novel primary care specialist oral surgery referral service operating in a managed clinical network

Aim This paper describes a newly created primary care oral surgery specialist service operating in a managed clinical network caring for the United Kingdom military population. It aims to review its outcomes and to consider the structure of the service in relation to the recommendations of the 2010 NHS sponsored ‘Review of Oral Surgery Services and Training’ by Medical Education England which made recommendations for the delivery of UK oral surgery services. Materials and methods A retrospective audit of patient records and referral data. Results This paper describes a primary care focused, specialist delivered oral surgery referral service that has demonstrated how the recommendations of this review can be successfully implemented to the benefit of patients and those that commission and resource care whilst simultaneously delivering clinical training to General Dental Practitioners in oral surgery. Furthermore it illustrates the successful implementation and integration of a managed clinical network for the delivery of oral surgery referral services from primary care general practice through primary care specialist practice to secondary care hospital services. Conclusions The benefits of the service include an efficient, effective and fiscally economical patient centred service with referral to treatment timings and complication rates that compare favourably to current alternatives and with the structures and processes that facilitate the achievement of quality outcomes.