Communication and Information Sharing

Communication and information sharing is part of meeting P 3.9. For dental nurses, this means knowing how to support patients, colleagues and safe systems while staying within your scope of practice.

Collaboration across health and social care is necessary because oral health affects and is affected by nutrition, diabetes, dementia, medicines, safeguarding, care-home support, smoking, alcohol, mental health and disability. Dental services cannot address all these needs alone.

What to notice in practice

• Consent: ask what the patient or colleague needs next, then hand over or escalate clearly.
• Confidentiality: respect privacy while sharing only the information needed for care.
• Records: treat information as evidence for care and learning, not merely administration.
• Referrals: ensure information reaches the right service or colleague at the right time.
• Updates: confirm ongoing needs and communicate changes promptly.

Dental nurses contribute through clear handovers, consent-aware information sharing, liaison with carers, appointment preparation and reliable follow-up.

Good practice is practical and visible: prepare, listen to what patients and colleagues say, check understanding, hand over clearly and flag recurring problems as learning opportunities. That is how this SPF outcome applies in everyday work.

Research and system context

Collaboration turns oral health from an isolated dental issue into part of joined-up care for patients and communities.