Healthcare case studies: Accessing care

July 22, 2024

Mid-treatment patient returning from overseas

• A Service child had been undergoing orthodontic treatment while living in Saudi Arabia. When she returned to the UK, five more treatments were still required until the work was completed. As the original moulds were lost, it could not be ascertained whether she would have met the NHS Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need criteria for treatment. Without this proof, the NHS Business Services Authority refused approval for NHS treatment. Defence Primary Healthcare could also not offer any solution. The family approached two orthodontic practices who both said that she did not meet NHS treatment criteria, which was to be expected because she had already been having treatment. The Army Families Federation worked with NHS England and the NHS Improvement Armed Forces Commissioning team and dental commissioners, where it was agreed that the orthodontic work could be completed under NHS funding.