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Disability part 3: improving access to dental practices in Merseyside
D M Edwards1, A J Merry, R Pealing
1Director of Public Health, North Liverpool Primary Care Trust, Newhall Campus, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool L10 1LD, UK. dympna.edwards@northliverpoolpct.nhs.uk
British Dental Journal
|October 9, 2002
Summary
Dental practices improved accessibility for disabled individuals through audits and training. These initiatives helped practices comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, enhancing patient care and facility access.
Area of Science:
- Oral health accessibility
- Healthcare facility compliance
- Disability inclusion in dentistry
Background:
- Dental practices face challenges in meeting accessibility standards for disabled patients.
- Compliance with disability legislation is crucial for equitable healthcare provision.
- Disability awareness training can improve staff understanding and patient interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess and improve disability access in Merseyside dental practices.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of disability awareness training for dental staff.
- To ensure compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Part III.
Main Methods:
- Conducting disability access audits of dental practice premises.
- Implementing disability awareness training programs for practice staff.
- Awarding grants to fund facility improvements based on audit recommendations.
Main Results:
- Audits identified common accessibility issues in dental facilities.
- Dental teams found disability awareness training highly valuable.
- Improvements were made to practice facilities to enhance accessibility.
Conclusions:
- Proactive measures like audits and training are essential for dental practice accessibility.
- Ongoing consideration of access for disabled people is necessary in all practice developments.
- Compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act ensures equitable dental care for all patients.