Referral Policy

Garton & Garton Limited

‍Last reviewed: September 2026

Thank you for referring your patient to Dr Stuart Garton.

Our aim is to provide a collaborative referral service that supports the patient, keeps the referring dentist informed and, where appropriate, allows the patient to return to their own dentist for the restorative and continuing-care stages of treatment.

Before making a referral

Please ensure that:

• the patient is aware that you are referring them;
• you have explained why the referral is being made;
• the patient understands that relevant personal and clinical information will be shared with Garton & Garton Limited;
• the patient has had the opportunity to raise any concerns or withhold permission for routine sharing of confidential information; and
• their permission to make the referral and share relevant information is recorded in their clinical notes.

Patient permission for sharing confidential clinical information is distinct from consent to treatment and from "consent" as a UK GDPR lawful basis.

Information to include

Please provide only information that is relevant to the referral. This may include:

• patient name, date of birth and contact details;
• reason for referral;
• relevant dental and implant history;
• relevant medical history, medication and allergies;
• tooth/site information;
• appropriate radiographs or imaging;
• relevant photographs or scans; and
• any particular clinical, communication or treatment considerations.

Accurate and sufficient information helps us assess the patient safely and efficiently.

Secure referral

Patient information is confidential health information and must be transferred securely.

Please use the secure referral pathway provided rather than sending detailed medical histories, radiographs or other sensitive clinical information through unsecured communication channels.

If information is sent to us in error, please contact us promptly.

Data-controller responsibilities

The referring dental practice and Garton & Garton Limited will ordinarily act as independent data controllers for the patient information each organisation holds and uses for its own clinical purposes.

The referring practice remains responsible for the lawful and secure disclosure of information from its own patient record.

Once information is received for the purposes of the referral, Garton & Garton Limited is responsible for its use as part of the referral and clinical-care process.

Our Patient Privacy Notice explains this in further detail.

What happens after referral?

Receipt of a referral does not guarantee that implant treatment will be appropriate.

The patient will be clinically assessed and treatment recommendations will be based upon their individual circumstances.

We will aim to communicate relevant findings and treatment plans to the referring clinician, subject to the patient's confidentiality rights and wishes.

Responsibility for patient care

Submitting a referral does not by itself transfer responsibility for all of the patient's dental care.

Until the patient has been assessed and accepted for the relevant treatment, the referring clinician should continue to manage their ongoing dental needs and any urgent problems falling within their care.

Garton & Garton Limited accepts responsibility for treatment that it agrees to undertake.

Where treatment is shared between clinicians, responsibilities for the relevant stages of care should be made clear to the patient and between the clinicians involved.

Implant surgery with restorative handback

Where the patient has been referred for implant assessment and/or surgical treatment with the intention that the referring dentist restores the implant:

• restorative requirements will be considered during treatment planning;
• we will aim to keep the referring clinician updated;
• relevant implant and component information will be provided;
• the patient will be returned to the referring clinician for restoration when clinically appropriate; and
• support can be provided to the referring clinician regarding the restorative workflow where appropriate.

If clinical circumstances mean that the proposed pathway needs to change, this will be discussed with the patient and referring clinician.

Urgent or emergency care

The online referral service is not an emergency service.

If a patient requires urgent treatment, the referring clinician should arrange appropriate immediate care and contact us directly where necessary rather than relying solely upon submission of an online referral.

Confidentiality and onward sharing

Information received through a referral will be treated as confidential clinical information.

It may be shared where necessary with healthcare professionals and organisations involved in the patient's care, such as:

• the referring clinician;
• other treating clinicians;
• dental laboratories;
• imaging providers; and
• relevant clinical service providers.

Only information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose should be shared.

Identifiable referral information will not be used for Engage Implant teaching, course materials, social media or marketing simply because the patient has been referred through the Engage pathway.

Any identifiable use for teaching, publication, photography or marketing will be dealt with separately and appropriate patient permission obtained where required.

Patient privacy information

Patients referred to Garton & Garton Limited will be provided with access to our Patient Privacy Notice – Clinical Referrals, explaining:

• what information we receive;
• where it came from;
• how we use it;
• our lawful basis;
• who it may be shared with;
• how long it is retained; and
• the patient's information rights.

Where we first receive a patient's details from their referring dentist, we will normally draw the privacy notice to the patient's attention when we first communicate with them.

Questions about a referral

If you are uncertain whether a patient is suitable for referral or would like to discuss a case before referring, please contact us.

Garton & Garton LimitedCompany number: 13193117

Clinical referrals are managed by Garton & Garton Limited independently of Engage Implant Education Limited.

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