Sussex dental partnership revolutionises care for patients with complex needs
The NHS and Nuffield Health collaboration has been breaking barriers and helping people get accessible care across Sussex for twenty years
A pioneering partnership between Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT) and Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity, is being hailed as a benchmark for patient-centred innovation—dramatically improving dental care for people with complex needs across Sussex.
For nearly 20 years, the Trust’s Special Care Dental Service has worked alongside Nuffield Health’s Haywards Heath Hospital to deliver essential dental procedures under general anaesthetic for adults with learning disabilities, neurodiversity, and severe anxiety. This integrated pathway has not only reduced waiting times and cancellations but has also humanised and prioritised care for some of the county’s most vulnerable residents.
“Historically, our patients faced frequent cancellations due to NHS theatre space being prioritised for acute procedures. Partnering with Nuffield Health has allowed us to treat dental care as an equal surgical priority, improving outcomes and patient experience,” said Rob Emanuel, Consultant in Special Care Dentistry for SCFT.
The hybrid care model ensures that while some treatments remain within the NHS, most general anaesthesia cases for adults are carried out at the independent facility, offering private rooms, calm recovery spaces and highly trained staff attuned to caring for those with additional needs.
Patients and families have described the scheme as life-changing. Ann, whose daughter Zena receives treatment through the partnership, praised the team’s empathy and professionalism: “Coming through this NHS pathway to Nuffield Health Haywards Heath Hospital has made an enormous difference. The team have been so kind and patient, making her feel completely safe... It’s such a comfort to know she can now get the treatment she needs without fear. Dr Emanuel is incredibly caring, and I can’t praise him enough. It’s wonderful to see the NHS and independent sector working together to make services like this possible.”
Rob Emanuel underlines the uniqueness of the service: “Dentistry is very unusual amongst medical specialities in the sense that we’re the only ones who have a special care service. Patients can be referred with additional needs to have their routine dentistry done by people who’ve had specialist training. If you are highly anxious, you’re often not able to cooperate with standard dental care—and without a service like this they would never be able to access dental care at all.”
The Nuffield Health environment is a key factor in the service’s effectiveness. “When we treat patients in Nuffield Hospital, one of the advantages is the environment itself: very quiet and very calm. Staff are friendly, supportive, and really appreciate being involved. Our patients can have longer appointments and receive treatments under general anaesthetic, ensuring comfort and dignity,” Emanuel explained.
Specialist techniques, including intranasal sedative sprays, and pre-procedure sedation methods further alleviate distress. “We also have very few cancellations of sessions, which is very important for our patients and their families who often need to make special arrangements to attend appointments,” Emanuel added, noting the rare occasion when a severe flood saw the entire team and patients seamlessly relocated to maintain continuity of care.
Karen Eastman, Chief Medical Officer for SCFT, reflected: “We are deeply committed to ensuring that every patient, regardless of their circumstances, can access the care they need. This partnership with Nuffield Health reflects that passion. By working together across sectors, we’re breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive, compassionate dental service for those who need it most.”
David McNair, Hospital Director at Nuffield Health Haywards Heath Hospital, said: “Our long-standing partnership is built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to improving access and outcomes for some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community.”
Emanuel believes the Sussex model could inspire other areas grappling with long NHS waiting lists: “We're highlighting our partnership to encourage other areas to take a leaf from our Community Trust and look at how to access surgical care for their patients, perhaps where local factors make it very difficult.”