Kerr E, Watson S, McMullan J, Srinivasan M, McKenna G J. General dentists' attitudes and perceived barriers in providing domiciliary dental care to older adults in long-term care facilities or their homes in Northern Ireland: a descriptive qualitative study. Gerodontology 2022; 39: 257-265.

But GDPs are reluctant to attend.

In Northern Ireland, general dental practitioners (GDPs) are responsible for their registered patients, whether they can visit the dental surgery or not. The numbers of domiciliary visits by GDPs has remained static for the past five years. Fewer domiciliary visits by GDPs places additional strain on community dental services.

From 12 semi-structured telephone interviews with GDPs, barriers to providing domiciliary care were identified:

  1. 1.

    The risk of being sued in a litigious society

  2. 2.

    Poor remuneration make visits uneconomic

  3. 3.

    The complex nature of the treatment needed

  4. 4.

    Uncertainty concerning organisation and a lack of training.

  5. 5.

    Practice policies - corporates provide no domiciliary care.

A sixth theme identified recognised that GDPs had positive attitudes to providing the service, enjoying the interaction with patients, particularly if they were long-term, loyal patients of the practice.