What do the Welsh public understand about NHS dental services, what do they think they could look like, and what are their priorities? A qualitative study

Abstract

NHS General Dental Services in Wales are undergoing reform. To ensure dental services meet the needs of those who use them, we explored what the public think these services could look like and what their priorities for are. The aim of this study was to consult with the Welsh public to understand their views on NHS dental services to help inform dental reform plans in Wales. Specific objectives were to explore: What do the public think Welsh NHS dental services could look like? What do the public understand about dental services and the dental team? What are their views on skill mix in dentistry? What are their attitudes towards and needs for oral health self-management? What are their priorities for dental care services in Wales? We used qualitative methods (interviews and focus group style workshops) across two phases between November 2023 and May 2024 to explore the study objectives. Thematic analyses were performed on the data to identify key themes. Forty four participants with diverse backgrounds from all seven local health boards in Wales took part.