Safety-Critical Updates, Handover and Continuity

Accurate records support continuity of care. Patients may return weeks later, see a different clinician, speak to reception, require urgent review, or phone with a problem after treatment. Clear records allow the team to see what has happened and what should happen next.

Dental nurses are often central to handover. You may notice that a patient needs a longer appointment, has a new communication or accessibility need, requires contact with a carer, has sedation-related instructions, or needs a safeguarding action followed up. If these details are not recorded or handed over, the next clinician or receptionist may not know.

Safety-critical details may include

• Allergies, current medicines, anticoagulant therapy, steroid cards or medical alerts.
• Adverse reactions, fainting, anxiety triggers or details of any medical emergency that occurred.
• Interpreter, BSL, easy-read, carer support or other reasonable-adjustment needs.
• Post-operative instructions, expected warning signs, emergency contact information or planned review arrangements.
• Safeguarding concerns, capacity issues or chaperone requirements recorded via the correct route.

Handover must be factual and maintain confidentiality. Avoid discussing sensitive details where patients or visitors can hear. Use approved record and communication systems rather than informal notes that can be lost, misunderstood or seen by the wrong person.

Records and reasonable adjustments

If information matters for the patient's next contact with the practice, it probably needs to be recorded or handed over properly.