Intermediate Minor Oral Surgery (IMOS) service

Intermediate Minor Oral Surgery (IMOS) service in Kent and Medway for routine Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery referrals

A primary care Intermediate Minor Oral Surgery (IMOS) service has been set up to support management of patients requiring minor oral surgery. This will ensure that patients are treated more quickly in the primary care setting and those requiring more complex surgery are referred to a local hospital.

This service is for routine procedures only. Any urgent oral surgery referrals (e.g. suspected cancers, acute dental conditions affecting the airway/eye or uncontrollable severe haemorrhage) should be sent directly to secondary care using the enclosed urgent referral proforma.

The Kent and Medway Primary Care Trusts have completed the tender for a Dental Referral Triage Service and IMOS service. This service will:

• Ensure patients receive care closer to home;

• Reduce waiting times;

• Free up secondary care capacity for patients with complex needs; and

• Deliver value for money.

Following triage, there are three routes for the referral:

1.      Return to the referral source

2.      Referral to the patient’s choice of IMOS Provider or

3.      Onward referral to secondary care.

IMOS providers are Dentists with Specialist Interests (DwSIs) who will undertake extractions and apicectomies. They will treat patients whose needs exceed the competence of General Dental Practioners but do not require consultant led care.

• Letter to dentists re Intermediate Minor Oral Surgery (IMOS) service

• Intermediate Minor Oral Service (IMOS) FAQs

• Kent and Medway Oral Maxillo Facial Surgery ‘routine’ referral guidelines

• Kent and Medway Oral Maxillo Facial Surgery dental referral information

• GDP guidelines referring IMOSIV

• GDP guidelines radiography referring IMOS

• IMOS service extraction referral pathway

• Kent OMFS referral proforma

• Head and Neck urgent referrals