Queries regarding complaints, incidents or patient safety concerns in mixed NHS/private dental practices: FOI release

Information requested

1. Since 1 January 2023, has the Office of the Chief Dental Officer undertaken or commissioned any formal analysis of complaints, incidents, or patient safety concerns in mixed NHS/private dental practices? Please answer yes or no.

If yes, please provide a brief summary of the main findings.

If no such record exists, please confirm this explicitly.

2. Has the Office of the Chief Dental Officer formally identified or recorded any risks to patient safety arising from the current lack of practice-level oversight in mixed NHS/private dental practices? Please answer yes or no.

If yes, please provide a brief summary of the risks identified.

If no such record exists, please confirm this explicitly.

3. Since 1 January 2023, has the Office of the Chief Dental Officer made any recommendations or proposals to Ministers or the Scottish Government concerning improvements to complaints handling, patient escalation routes, or patient safety monitoring for mixed NHS/private dental practices? Please answer yes or no.

If yes, please state:
a) whether any such proposals were formally submitted, and
b) the current status of this work.

If no such proposals or record exists, please confirm this explicitly.

4. Since 1 January 2023, has the Office of the Chief Dental Officer engaged with NHS National Services Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, or any NHS Boards regarding complaints or patient safety in mixed NHS/private dental practices? Please answer yes or no.

If yes, please list the organisations engaged and the dates of any significant correspondence or meetings.

If no such engagement or record exists, please confirm this explicitly.

5. Has the Office of the Chief Dental Officer formally assessed or recorded whether the lack of practice-level governance in mixed NHS/private dental practices creates risks to patient safety? Please answer yes or no.

If yes, please provide a brief summary of the risks identified.

If no such record exists, please confirm this explicitly.

Date range: 1 January 2023 to the date of this request.

Response

Please find below and enclosed the information you requested.

1. No, I can confirm no record exists.

2. Yes. A risk has been added to the primary care risk register regarding the practice-level oversight of mixed economy dental practices.

3. No, I can confirm no proposals have been made.

4. Yes, dates included below.

Date of Engagement	Organisation Engaged With
22 August 2024	Meeting with Board Chief Executives / Chief Officers. Raised within a broader discussion / wider agenda. This links with 5 September 2024 email
5 September 2024	Email between one Director of Dentistry (Health Board) and CDO Office. Links with above engagement.
23 October 2024	Email between CDO Office and NHS Directors of Dentistry (Health Boards)
8 December 2025	Email between SG and NSS
4 March 2026	CDO met with NHS Lothian, raised within a broader discussion / wider agenda.
11 March 2026	CDO met with NHS GG&C, raised within a broader discussion / wider agenda.
17 March 2026	CDO met with NHS Ayrshire & Arran, raised within a broader discussion/wider agenda.
21 April 2026	CDO office met with NHS Directors of Dentistry (Health Boards)
30 April 2026	Email between CDO office and NHS Directors of Dentistry (Health Boards)
8 May 2026	Email between CDO office and NHS Directors of Dentistry (Health Boards)

5. Yes. A risk has been added to the primary care risk register regarding the practice-level oversight of mixed economy dental practices.

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The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.