Hillside Dental currently only able to deliver emergency services

Hillside Dental Practice is currently only able to deliver emergency dental services to patients due to IT issues.

The offered emergency services are based at the Community Dental Service at the Central Community Health Centre, Westmoreland Road, Douglas.

Manx Care took responsibility for Hillside Dental Practice (Douglas) on December 1, 2023.

Manx Care and Hillside

Part of the preparations for Manx Care to take over Hillside included the implementation of a new IT system to manage patient bookings, dental treatment records and so on, which was scheduled to take place in the days leading up to December 1, 2023.

The software that was previously in place was specific to the private provider, and so a new solution is required going forward.  

Unfortunately, despite colleagues working towards the implementation day of December 1, 2023, Manx Care was notified the week prior to this that the new software provider had experienced a serious cyber-attack, which to date has still not been resolved.

IT issues

This means that if Manx Care were to allow the company access to its data, it could pose a serious threat to the security of sensitive patient information within our organisation.

As a result, the Primary Care team is now looking for an alternative solution and hopes to have a temporary measure in place within the next week, whilst procurement of new software is underway.

Hillside Dental Practice will then be able to make contact with patients to recall them for examinations and continuing care.

Hillside emergency care

If you require urgent and emergency care and are assigned to Hillside Dental Practice, please contact the practice directly on 642389 and an appointment will be made for you.

Manx Care and the team at Hillside apologise that they have been unable to start operating services as quickly as hoped, and trust that patients will understand the importance of protecting their data.

Staff have been subject to abuse

Practice staff have sadly been subject to abuse from some individuals who are unhappy that they have not yet received a check-up appointment.

Whilst Manx Care says it does understand frustrations, given the significant reduction in provision by Hillside due to longstanding staffing issues, Manx Care’s priority is to make sure we can deliver the best, most efficient and safe services to our patients.

It is asking that those contacting the practice show colleagues patience and courtesy, whilst the team get service up and running.