For the attention of all NHS Dental Practices / Providers.
Please ensure this bulletin is shared with all colleagues within the practice, including performers, to ensure vital updates are not missed. Thank you.
Coming soon across the South West
Dental Electronic Referral Service (DERS)
In March 2025, the ICBs across the South West region agreed to fund the introduction of a DERS service.
Currently Dental Referrals to Specialist, Community and Secondary Care Services are made in a variety of ways across the region, either via a referral management service or direct via email/paper.
DERs strengthens the NHS commitment to move from analogue to digital by moving a referral from paper to electronic format and should streamline the process; improve efficiency for both patients and dental professionals; and ensure a traceable secure referral method.
A DERs service will be introduced to replace all existing referral systems from January 2026. This change will not apply to Dorset, which currently has a DERs system in place, which will integrate with the new system in the future.
A well-attended engagement session was held on 1st May 2025 to clarify the benefits and next steps. If you would like to know more about DERS via a recording of the event login to the NHS Futures platform and then click here (you will need to login first).
Alternatively, contact Andy Blocke for more detailed information, timetable or a copy of the slides at Andy.Blocke1@nhs.net