Dental website review
Download (PDF 203.34 KB)Summary of report content
In May 2020 Healthwatch Wokingham launched a survey to understand more about how people in the Borough were experiencing the changes in health and social care due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Early analysis showed that access to information about dental care was proving difficult for 22% of respondents. To find out more they reviewed 25 dental websites spread across the Borough in July 2020 following the resumption of dental services on 8th June 2020, with the aim of providing public information and sharing best practice. A mystery shopping approach was taken and included members of CLASP a local learning disability charity to ensure that the information provided was accessible.
At the time of the review, Healthwatch Wokingham found that nearly three in ten dental surgery websites didn’t include up to date information about service changes due to Covid-19. Over two in five didn’t include information as to whether they offered NHS dental treatment. And just under half didn’t include clear information about how to get dental treatment in an emergency. There were some examples of excellent information that was accessible to people with learning disabilities. However, there was little consistency between dental practices.
The report includes two recommendations about the need to regularly update website information and what information dental surgery websites should include.