LONDON — A new pilot project is cutting dental care wait times from six months to just two weeks, thanks to the introduction of innovative “virtual” clinics. The program, launched at Guy’s Hospital, is supported by a £237,000 grant from Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity.
The virtual clinics give local dentists direct access to hospital consultants for advice. This allows many patients to receive high-quality care without traveling into central London. As a result, patients can be treated closer to home, and only those with complex conditions are referred to Guy’s Hospital, where waiting times have also been reduced.
So far, more than 200 patients in east and southeast England have received treatment through this model. In addition to quicker care, the initiative has saved patients, their families, and hospital transport teams more than 4,000 miles in travel. Patients have also benefited from advanced technologies such as 3D printing—without having to physically visit the hospital.
The model was recently shared in the British Dental Journal and is the first published example of virtual advice-and-guidance clinics in dentistry. Organizers are now sharing the approach with other hospitals in London and the Association of Dental Hospitals to expand the benefits across the UK.
Poonam Kalsi, co-lead of the project and clinical director of Guy’s Dental Hospital, highlighted the innovation: “These clinics are common in medicine, but this is the first time we’ve had a formal and funded model for dentistry. With this approach, patients are seen at the right time, by the right clinician.”
Jose Rodriguez, co-lead and consultant in restorative dentistry, said the model reflects a shift toward more patient-focused care. “We’ve reduced stressful travel and hospital visits for patients and carers while expanding access to dental care across the region,” he said.
The pilot demonstrates how virtual solutions can improve healthcare delivery, reduce travel, and streamline access to specialized treatment—all while keeping care local and patient-centered.
