Dental Public Health in Action: Utilising a telephone triage system to run an Urgent Dental Care Hub during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the outcome of a telephone triage system used by different team members to run an Urgent Dental Care Hub (UDCH) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also look at the adjustments made to the system because of the challenges faced. Data were collected from the telephone triage proforma and clinical notes of patients that were triaged from 2nd April to 10th June 2020. With 65% of telephone triaged and accepted patients receiving definitive treatment that alleviated the presenting complaint, the value of telephone triage is highlighted in streamlining an urgent dental care service during a viral pandemic. Public health competencies being illustrated: Dental public health intelligence, Developing and monitoring quality dental services