Overview

Seven Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in the South West of England are set to implement a unified dental electronic referral service (e-RS) in 2026. This initiative aims to streamline dental referrals across the region.

Key Details

• The service will manage referral activities across 12 dental pathways.
• It will support approximately 5.5 million people and cover over 900 dental practices, 17 acute providers, and more than 1,000 GP practices.
• About 160,000 dental referrals are expected to be processed annually through this system.

Benefits of the Unified Service

• Provides a consistent approach to the quality and triage of referrals.
• Enhances visibility on service demand and capacity.
• Acts as a reliable source for long-term planning and commissioning of dental services.
• Reduces variation in care and strengthens clinical decision-making.
• Helps identify pressure points for service development.
• Minimizes unnecessary rework for dentists and hospitals, allowing patients to access the right care more quickly.

Context and Support

The rollout comes amid ongoing national discussions regarding the need for clearer referral routes and improved data utilization in dentistry. A recent report from the NHS Confederation highlighted issues such as inconsistent referral pathways and limited demand visibility, which this unified service aims to address.

Statements from Officials

Matthew Jerreat, South West Regional Chief Dental Officer, stated:
“Introducing a single referral service across the South West will reduce variation and give clinicians a simpler, more consistent route into specialist dental care.”

Chris Bell, Co-Clinical Director at Bristol Dental School, added:
“Real-time visibility of referral activity will significantly enhance our planning and commissioning efforts.”

Implementation Timeline

The six ICBs—Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, Devon, Gloucestershire, and Somerset—will go live in 2026. Dorset, which is already using NEC Rego, will join the unified service in 2027.

Contract and Future Prospects

The contract for this service will initially last for three years, with an option for a two-year extension. NEC Rego will now support 22 of England’s 42 ICBs, capturing over half of the national market for digital dental referrals.

For more information, you can read the full articles from [Digital Health](https://www.digitalhealth.net/2026/03/seven-icbs-to-launch-unified-dental-electronic-referral-service/) and [The Probe](https://the-probe.co.uk/blog/2026/03/seven-south-west-icbs-partner-with-nec-to-deliver-single-dental-e-rs/).