Medical emergency policy (dental)

1. Purpose

This policy sets out how the Practice prepares for, responds to and records medical emergencies in primary-care dental premises.

It covers emergency drugs, emergency equipment, basic life support competence, simulation, escalation, transfer and post-event review.

2. Sources to verify before adoption

• Resuscitation Council UK, Quality Standards: Primary dental care: https://www.resus.org.uk/library/quality-standards-cpr/primary-dental-care
• Resuscitation Council UK, Primary dental care equipment list: https://www.resus.org.uk/library/quality-standards-cpr/primary-dental-care-equipment-list
• GDC Scope of Practice guidance, current version: https://www.gdc-uk.org/standards-guidance/standards-and-guidance/gdc-guidance-for-dental-professionals/scope-of-practice
• GDC Standards for the Dental Team: https://standards.gdc-uk.org/
• British National Formulary, dental section on medical emergencies, to be checked by the Practice through its current BNF access route

3. Scope

This policy applies to:

• all patients, visitors, staff and contractors on Practice premises
• all clinical and non-clinical staff
• emergency preparation in surgeries, waiting areas, reception and decontamination areas
• emergencies during NHS and private dental care
• emergencies during sedation where the Practice offers sedation

4. Emergency drugs

The Practice keeps emergency drugs appropriate to its service and verifies the list against the current BNF dental section and Resuscitation Council UK guidance before adoption.

The Verivius default check list covers readiness for:

• anaphylaxis
• hypoglycaemia
• asthma
• angina or suspected cardiac chest pain
• seizure
• opioid reversal where IV sedation is offered and the Practice's sedation protocol requires it

The Practice records:

• drug name
• strength and formulation
• quantity held
• expiry date
• storage location
• weekly check outcome
• replacement action

Emergency drugs are stored so they are accessible in an emergency and secure under the Practice medicines policy.

5. Emergency equipment

The Practice keeps emergency equipment appropriate to primary dental care and verifies the list against the current Resuscitation Council UK equipment list before adoption.

The Verivius default check list includes:

• automated external defibrillator
• oxygen cylinder and delivery equipment
• bag-valve-mask equipment
• pocket mask
• suction equipment
• oropharyngeal airways
• oxygen masks with reservoir
• sphygmomanometer or other approved blood-pressure equipment
• pulse oximeter where included in the Practice's local process
• scissors, razors and spare AED pads
• personal protective equipment

The Practice records weekly checks, servicing, expiry dates and replacement action.

6. Basic life support competence

All staff understand their role in a medical emergency.

• Clinical staff maintain basic life support competence appropriate to their role.
• Non-clinical staff know how to summon help, identify the emergency kit location and support the clinical team.
• Staff who may use the AED, oxygen or airway equipment receive role-appropriate training.
• New staff complete induction before working unsupervised.
• The Practice records training and refreshers in the staff training matrix.

The Practice checks the exact training cadence against current GDC, Resuscitation Council UK and commissioning expectations before adoption.

7. Simulation and scenario practice

The Practice carries out medical-emergency simulation. Verivius defaults are:

• at least annual whole-team simulation
• additional simulation after a serious event
• additional simulation after major staff, layout or equipment change
• scenarios covering collapse, anaphylaxis, hypoglycaemia, asthma, chest pain and seizure over the review cycle

Each simulation record includes:

• date
• scenario
• staff present
• learning points
• equipment or process issues
• actions assigned
• date for action review

8. Incident escalation pathway

When a medical emergency occurs, staff:

1. stop treatment and make the area safe
2. call for immediate help inside the Practice
3. assess the patient according to training
4. call 999 where emergency transfer or ambulance support is needed
5. use emergency equipment and drugs only within role and competence
6. keep a staff member with the patient until handover
7. document the event and treatment given
8. inform the Registered Manager as soon as practicable
9. record the event in the Practice incident register
10. assess statutory notification, duty of candour and safeguarding implications

The Practice does not use this policy as a clinical treatment algorithm. Staff follow current clinical training and emergency guidance.

9. Transfer and handover

Where the patient transfers to ambulance or hospital care, the Practice provides:

• patient details
• relevant medical history
• treatment being provided when the emergency happened
• observations recorded
• drugs administered
• time of each action where known
• allergies and current medication where known
• contact details for follow-up

The Practice records who received the handover.

10. Post-event debrief and record

After every medical emergency, the Registered Manager or clinical lead arranges a debrief.

The debrief covers:

• what happened
• what went well
• what did not work
• equipment availability
• communication
• training needs
• whether the incident record is complete
• whether an improvement action is needed

The debrief record is stored with the incident record. Any action is tracked to completion.

11. Audit

The Practice audits:

• weekly emergency drug and equipment checks
• staff training records
• simulation records
• incident records
• action completion after medical emergencies

Review cadence: annual or on regulatory change, whichever sooner. Owner: Registered Manager.