Patient-Centred Handover

Patient-centred handover supports I 2.1. For dental nurses, it means ensuring delegated tasks continue to meet the patient's needs and maintain continuity of care.

Team working is a safety system: know roles, respect scope, communicate clearly and protect colleagues who raise concerns.

In everyday practice this appears in small moments: a patient who seems unsure, a receptionist asking for guidance, a dentist moving quickly, a trainee needing feedback, a message left in the record, a handover, or a colleague worried about raising an issue. Interpersonal skill is responding with care, clarity and professional judgement.

Practical markers

• Notice: what the patient, colleague, situation or system is communicating.
• Choose: a communication method, team route or escalation step that fits the context.
• Respect: role boundaries, confidentiality, dignity, cultural needs and emotional impact.
• Check: understanding, responsibility, handover and whether the next person has the information they need.
• Follow up: through records, feedback, supervision, team discussion or raising a concern where needed.

Useful language can be direct and calm: "Can we pause and check whose role this is, so the patient gets the right support?" This gives the team a clear reason to pause, clarify or escalate.

SPF behaviour links

Responsibilities and limitations of delegating to other members of the dental team helps dental nurses protect patient dignity, team trust and safe care.