NHS dental referral advice for referring dentists

At Aligned Orthodontics, we deeply value the collaborative relationship we share with our referring dental colleagues. As part of our ongoing efforts to streamline the patient journey and improve communication, we wanted to share some key updates and reminders about the NHS orthodontic referral process, particularly in the Greater Manchester region.

Why This Matters

Recently, we’ve experienced a significant increase in patient phone calls requesting updates on their NHS orthodontic referrals. Unfortunately, we are unable to assist with these enquiries, as we do not have access to the NHS orthodontic waiting list. NHS referrals are centrally managed, meaning the process and waiting times are beyond the control of individual practices, including ours.

To help ensure your patients are supported appropriately and avoid confusion, please take a moment to review the following guidance.

1. Please Do Not List Our Practice Phone Number on Referrals

When submitting NHS orthodontic referrals, please refrain from including our practice phone number as a point of contact. Patients often interpret this as an invitation to call us for updates, which we are unable to provide.

Instead, please direct patients to the NHS Dental Referrals Portal, where they can track their referral status using their URN (Unique Reference Number):
👉 Track Your Referral

2. Who Manages NHS Orthodontic Referrals?

All NHS orthodontic referrals in Greater Manchester are handled by Referral Management Service Limited (RMS). Patients are triaged and allocated to providers across the region, not necessarily to your preferred or local provider. Allocation is based on clinical need, waiting list availability, and other logistical factors.

3. Submitting Accurate and Complete Referral Information

To ensure efficient processing:

• Double-check all patient information on the referral form (especially contact details).
• If a case is believed to be urgent, clearly indicate this on the referral and ensure the patient is dentally fit before sending the referral. If the patient is allocated to our practice, we will assess the urgency upon clinical review.
• If contact details are outdated or a patient is unresponsive, a new referral will need to be submitted through the RMS system. Unfortunately, we cannot process or accept direct referrals at our practice and the referral will be rejected back to yourself.

4. What Happens to Urgent Referrals That Don’t Meet Criteria?

In some cases, a patient may be referred as urgent but does not meet the NHS criteria for prioritised treatment after assessment. When this occurs:

• The patient will be reclassified as routine.
• They will return to the standard waiting list, based on their original referral date.
• This ensures fairness and consistency across all referrals.

5. Helping Patients Understand the Process

To support both practitioners and patients, we’ve created a helpful overview of the referral process on our website. This page outlines what patients can expect, how long they might wait, and where to go for updates:
👉 NHS Orthodontic Referral Process – Patient Guide

We encourage you to share this link with any patients who have questions about their referral.

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Thank you for your continued collaboration and for helping to ensure a smooth referral experience for your patients. By working together and clearly communicating how the NHS orthodontic pathway operates, we can reduce confusion and improve the journey for everyone involved.