Dental surgeries could face inspections and be ranked based on their performance under proposals being considered by health regulators.
Trial inspections are set to take place from November, when a consultation period will also begin into how the regulation of dentists can be improved.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is considering carrying out inspections of 10% of dental practices from the spring, focusing on those that are seen as a "cause for concern".
Inspectors will assess whether patients are receiving safe, effective, high quality care that is well-led and responsive to their needs.
Depending on the results of the consultation, ratings for dental practices could come into effect after 2016, the CQC said.
The proposals will be set out tomorrow in a "signposting" statement from the regulator, which outlines its views on the potential changes to the way it regulates dental services in England from next year.
The plans come just days after the CQC announced that GP surgeries are to receive Ofsted-style ratings, with those with the lowest rating facing being put into special measures.
Those doctors' practices that don't improve will face closure, the CQC said.
The regulator stressed that proposals for dental surgery assessment is in the early stages, and the views of dentists, dental and health bodies and the public will be taken into account before decisions are made.
The "signposting" statement will consider whether every inspection team should include a "dental specialist adviser" and people with extensive understanding of dental services to act as "experts by experience".
Inspections will also involve working with groups such as the General Dental Council, NHS England and the NHS Business Services Authority to monitor dental care standards.
Professor Steve Field, the CQC's chief inspector of primary medical services, said: "This statement marks a great opportunity to start discussions about the issues that matter most to the dental sector and people who use dental services.
"Our priority is to take a more collaborative approach with our partners in order to monitor and improve dental care standards in future.
"In future, we also want to increase our dialogue not only with providers but also with people accessing dental services and groups that represent them.
"I strongly encourage anyone with an interest in primary care dental services to share their thoughts with us at this initial signposting stage and when we launch our formal consultation this autumn.
"By doing so, we can we work together to ensure that our future approach can best serve both providers and people using dental services."
People can find out more about proposals for dental inspections and the consultation by visiting the CQC's website, www.cqc.org.uk.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ratings-plan-dental-practices-140302751.html
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar