The introduction of a safe discharge network for the ongoing oral healthcare of patients who have completed management for head and neck cancers - Refereed Paper

Sep 22, 2026

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Oral healthcare for patients treated for head and neck cancer is essential for long-term wellbeing, yet access to routine dental services remains difficult, increasing the risk of oral health deterioration. The work presents the West Yorkshire experience of building collaborative shared care networks between a tertiary care centre and primary dental services. It draws on needs assessments, pathway analyses, practitioner confidence surveys, and health education initiatives, with the aim of addressing structural and multi-organisational barriers to care.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Key points

Abstract

Background

Impacts of HNC treatment on oral health

OPEN GENErAL The introduction of a safe discharge network for the ongoing oral healthcare of patients who have completed management for head and neck cancers Jaymit Patel*1 and Zaid Ali1 Key points Highlights the importance of dental access for head and neck cancer patients. Summarises the challenges faced in improving dental access for this cohort. Describes an approach to improving dental access with multi-organisational collaboration. Abstract Oral healthcare for patients who have been treated for head and neck cancer is essential to the long-term health and wellbeing of these patients. Access to routine dental care has, however, faced persistent challenges, resulting in a risk for oral health deterioration. We present the experience of West Yorkshire in developing collaborative shared care networks between a tertiary care centre and primary care dental services to safeguard oral health for this vulnerable population. The methodologies used included needs assessments, pathway analyses and practitioner confidence surveys, alongside a range of health education initiatives. We hope that sharing of these experiences will facilitate navigation of the structural and multi-organisational dimensions of healthcare planning and provision. Background Access to oral healthcare for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of primary dental diseases and surveillance of oral health to detect more sinister pathologies is an important component of overall health, yet the landscape has been challenging for many years and continues to be of significant concern, particularly for vulnerable populations in the United Kingdom (UK) . In the UK, patients who have undergone treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC) face a unique set of challenges in accessing dental services, as their particular clinical status as ‘clinically vulnerable’ and susceptible to dental and recurrence of more sinister pathology is largely overlooked by the current iteration of the NHS (National Health Service) dental contracts for primary care, both in General 1Consultant, Restorative Dentistry, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, UK. *Correspondence to: Jaymit Patel Email address: [jaymit.patel@nhs. net](jaymit.patel@nhs. net) Refereed Paper. Submitted 1 May 2025 Revised 4 July 2025 Accepted 14 July 2025 [https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-025-9118-0](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-025-9118-0) Dental Services and Personal Dental Services. These challenges are compounded by the persistent disparities in healthcare access – health awareness and health outcomes associated with sociodemographic variables. Having a higher risk of HNC is ‘consistently associated with poor socioeconomic status’(SES) and with smoking. 1,2 We know that SES plays a pivotal role in determining access to dental care and that individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to experience barriers to care, including financial constraints and transportation issues.3 These barriers are exacerbated for patients with HNC, who may already face financial burdens due to financial burden associated with their cancer treatment and subsequent healthcare needs.3 Unsurprisingly, this background at the time of diagnosis results in the finding that patients who are diagnosed with HNC have poorer levels of baseline oral health when compared to the general populus: the percentage of patients with periodontal disease and carious teeth being greater in patients diagnosed with HNC.4 We summarise the West Yorkshire approach to improving oral health outcomes for patients treated for HNC. Impacts of HNC treatment on oral health In addition to the poor levels of baseline oral health, patients who undergo treatment for HNC experience a substantial negative impact on their oral health-related quality of life, especially when radical radiotherapy is used as part of their treatment pathway.5 Patients experience a range of profound and lasting impacts on oral health and or

FAQs

Why is ongoing oral healthcare important after treatment for head and neck cancer?

Ongoing oral healthcare supports long-term health and wellbeing. After curative treatment, patients remain at risk of oral health deterioration and complications that can affect oral function and quality of life.

What challenges affect access to dental services for head and neck cancer patients in the UK?

Patients face persistent barriers shaped by their clinically vulnerable status and limitations in current primary care dental contract arrangements. Disparities linked to socioeconomic factors, financial constraints, and transportation further compound access problems.

How did West Yorkshire aim to improve dental access and safeguard oral health?

The approach used needs assessments, pathway analyses, practitioner confidence surveys, and health education initiatives. It relied on multi-organisational collaboration between tertiary care and primary dental services to form shared care networks.

Sep 22, 2026

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