Dental appointment waiting times (FOI)

Request

Please kindly provide:

A

Average waiting time in terms of weeks / months for a routine dental check for adults in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and so far in 2017

B

Average waiting list length for a routine dental check-up for adults in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.

C

Current waiting list for a routine dental check-up for adults in 2017

D

Average waiting time in terms of weeks / months for a routine dental check for children in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and so far in 2017

E

Average waiting list length for a routine dental check-up for children in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.

F

Current waiting list for a routine dental check-up for children in 2017

G

Average waiting time in terms of weeks / months for an orthodontist appointment for children in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and so far in 2017

H

Average waiting list length for an orthodontist appointment for children in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.

I

Current waiting list for an orthodontist appointment for children in 2017

J

Average waiting time in terms of weeks / months for an orthodontist appointment for adults in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and so far in 2017

K

Average waiting list length for an orthodontist appointment for adults in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.

L

Current waiting list for an orthodontist appointment for adults in 2017

Response

Please note:

An outpatient hospital waiting list (or referral list) is used to manage all patients from the point of initial referral (for example from their GP or Dentist), to the point where they arrive at their appointment. This is called a ‘New’ appointment.

The waiting time counts from the date the referral is received at Jersey General Hospital and ends on the date the patient was seen for the first time by a clinician.

The waiting list includes patients of all priorities (urgent, soon and routine), and all ages, as it is important to maintain visibility of all referrals in one place.

The number of patients and time they have waited is reported at a fixed point in time and provides an aggregated view of the whole waiting list. It is therefore not possible to provide retrospective data relating to priority or age.

Outpatient clinics contain a mix of New and Follow-Up appointments. These fluctuate depending on a patient’s priority and service demand. The Follow-Up rate is monitored regularly to ensure the Health and Social Services Department meets the needs of both New and Follow-Up patients.

Average waiting times are provided in weeks as month length varies. This number represents the average time a patient waited to be seen for a new appointment and cannot be split by priority (ie urgent, soon and routine).

Waiting list length is calculated at a fixed point in time and cannot be averaged. Responses to these questions display the waiting list length for new appointments at 31 December for each year.

Waiting list length cannot be split by priority (ie urgent, soon and routine) or age. Responses to these questions contain all new appointments for all age groups and priorities.

A

Average waiting time for a new dental appointment for adults (18+)

 B

Waiting list length for a new dental appointment for all priorities and age groups

Data has only been recorded in this way since 2014.

C

Current waiting list for a new dental appointment for all priorities and age groups

 D

Average waiting time for a new dental appointment for children (0 to 17)

E

Average waiting list length for a routine dental check-up for children

As stated above, we are unable to split the waiting list length data by age. Children are included in response B.

F

Current waiting list for a routine dental check-up for children in 2017

As stated above, we are unable to split the waiting list length data by age. Children are included in responses C.

G

Average waiting time for a new orthodontist appointment for children (0 to 17)

 H

Waiting list length for a new orthodontist appointment for all priorities and age groups

Data has only been recorded in this way since 2014.

 I

Current waiting list for a new orthodontist appointment for all priorities and age groups

J

Average waiting time in terms of weeks/months for a new orthodontist appointment for adults (18+)

K

Average waiting list length for an orthodontist appointment for adults

As stated above, we are unable to split the waiting list length data by age. Adults are included in response H.

L

Current waiting list for an orthodontist appointment for adults

As stated above, we are unable to split the waiting list length data by age. Adults are included in response I.