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The Dental Practice now has a generic email address: dentalenquiries@uea.ac.uk

We are once more able to offer treatment to UEA staff members' immediate families.

Introduction

The University Dental Practice provides NHS dental care to UEA students and staff and their immediate families.  The Practice is on the first floor of the University Medical Centre, located on the left hand side of University Drive at the junction with Bluebell Road.

Staff

Dental surgeons:

• Louise Ambridge, BDS 
• Savan Shah, BDS, MJDF

Dental Manager:

• Alison Herridge (part-time) 

Dental Nurse/receptionists:

• Maria De Mello
• Charlotte Mandy
• Kerry King
• Val Willis

Appointments

Appointments can be made in person or by telephone (01603 592173) only.  If the receptionist is busy when you ring, then please leave a message and a contact number and she will ring you back.  You will normally be offered an appointment with your regular dentist but if you would prefer to see the other dentist, please tell the receptionist.  We will give you a note of the date and time of your appointment.

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please given us at least 24 hours' notice if possible so that it can be offered to another patient.  If you miss your appointment without good cause or explanation, we reserve the right to refuse you treatment in the future.

Emergency Treatment

If you are suffering from acute dental pain, you will usually be seen on the same day for an assessment.  You will then be offered the earliest available appointment to begin your treatment.  Patients with less acute problems will be seen as soon as possible.  We use a “cancellation list” system.  This means that if you are on the list, we will contact you if another patient cancels their appointment.  It is our policy to prioritise patients who are in the greatest pain.

Under the NHS dental contract which was introduced in April 2006, out of hours emergency treatment is the responsibility of the Norwich Primary Care Trust (PCT).  Details of how to access emergency advice or treatment out of hours are on the Practice answer phone every evening, at weekends and on other days when the University is closed.  Alternatively, you can contact the NHS out of hours service on 111.   Any treatment you receive will not be with your regular dentist.  Other advice on dental care is available from NHS Direct at http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

Payment

Under the national NHS dental contract, there are 3 bands of charges.  It is our policy to ask for payment at the beginning of a course of treatment, but it may be possible to make a part payment initially if the course of treatment is in the highest band and is spread over a long period.    All NHS and private charges must be paid by completion of a course of treatment.  Payment may be made in cash, by cheque, debit card or any of the major credit cards.  Follow this link for further information on payment arrangements.

HC1 forms are available at reception for patients wishing to apply for full or partial exemption from NHS dental charges because of low income.  It can take several weeks for applications to be processed and if you do not have a valid exemption certificate at the start of your treatment, you will be asked to pay.  If you obtain an exemption certificate within 3 months of paying, you can apply for a refund; claim forms are available from reception.

Patients with disabilities

The lift to the first floor of the Medical Centre is immediately opposite the main entrance.  If you require any assistance to access treatment, please speak to the receptionist.

Former students and staff

We are happy to see patients who are no longer students or members of staff provided they make an appointment within 15 months of their last appointment.

Car Parking

If you do not have a UEA parking permit, please park in the University’s main car park and take a ticket at the barrier.  If you retain your ticket and have it validated at the Medical Centre reception on arrival, there will be no charge.  There are also several spaces reserved for patients of the dental and medical practices on the road side close to the Medical Centre. 

Confidentiality and Data Protection

Any information given to the Practice staff will be treated with sensitivity, care and discretion.  In most circumstances, the information you provide will be treated as confidential and information will not normally be passed to anyone outside the Practice without your consent, subject to the following exceptions:

• when we are legally required to do so by the police or other law enforcement agencies;
• if you are under 18 years old and we have a serious concern about your well-being;
• if there are clear indications that you present a serious risk to yourself or others.

The University of East Anglia is a data controller in terms of the Data Protection Act 1998.  The Dental Practice follows University policy in matters of data protection.  Any enquiries concerning the use of the data held by the Practice in its manual and computerised records should be addressed to the Dental Manager.

Complaints

If you feel we have fallen short of the high quality of service we aim to provide to all our patients, please draw your concerns to the attention of the Dental Manager in the first instance.  You can contact her in writing, by e-mail (a.herridge@uea.ac.uk) or by telephone (01603 593660).

August 2012