Access to Dental Treatment in Northumberland
To receive an update from NHS England on dental access in Northumberland and the support to for provision in Berwick.
Minutes:
Access to Dental Treatment in Northumberland
Members received a presentation from P. Fletcher, Senior Primary Care Manager (Primary Care Central Commissioning Lead – North East and Cumbria) from NHS England which updated the committee on the level of NHS dentist provision in Northumberland including the support for provision in Berwick. (A copy of the powerpoint slides have been filed with the signed minutes).
The presentation covered the following issues:
· Confirmation that there was no ‘formal’ registration in NHS dentistry. Patients could contact any NHS dental practice to access care.
· Dental contracts and provision were activity and demand led with the expectation that practices delivered and managed their available commissioned activity to best meet the needs of patients.
· The contract regulations set out the contract currency which was measured in units of dental activity (UDAs) that were attributable to a ‘banded’ course of treatment prescribed under the regulations.
· COVID- 19 pandemic and requirement to follow strict infection prevention control guidance had significantly impacted on access to dental care. Demand for dental care remained high across all NHS dental practices.
· NHS England also commissioned: urgent dental care services, Community dental, Specialist orthodontic service and Domiciliary care services.
· Since the last update to committee Burgess and Hyder Dental Group Practice in Berwick had closed. This equated to a loss of 4300 UDA’s.
· The pressures and challenges being faced particularly with recruitment and retention.
· Dental systems reforms, what had been achieved so far and next steps.
· Berwick access. It was noted that a formal market engagement had been undertaken to inform the procurement of a long-term sustainable contract to replace capacity lost from NHS contracts handed back. However, this had not been as successful as hoped. In the interim a number of options had been secured to help with access:
· Additional funding offered to practices in other parts of the county. Eight practices had taken up the offer with a focus on patients with an urgent/dental treatment need and nationally identified high risks groups, including children (Central and North Northumberland area).
· Additional clinical sessions had been secured at the Newcastle Dental Hospital.
· Additional capacity was to be provided by Northumbria Healthcare Trust community dental services to support access for vulnerable patients with additional needs that could not be met within high street practices.
· North Northumberland identified as a priority area for workforce recruitment and retention initiatives aimed at incentivising dentists to come to work in the area which included offering a financial incentive and support to overseas dentists to gain entry onto the National Performers list.
In response to member questions the following information was provided:
· Scottish Borders contracts worked differently to those in England. They also had experienced recruitment and retention issues but were starting to increase capacity. Officers had been working with colleagues over the border to share knowledge and experience. It was hoped that some of the projects established here would start to have a positive reaction soon and increase capacity.
· The method of payments was explained for UDA’s to dentists. It was reported that if there were any dentists experiencing any problems with payment these could be investigated.
· It was reported that if the formal procurement procedure was successful in Berwick, then a new contract could be in place from April 2024.
· Members would be kept up to date with any progress made regarding the capacity issue in Berwick.
· The practices delivering the extra clinical capacity offer had purposely not been advertised to ensure they were not inundated.
· NHS Choices website listed all NHS dentists within Northumberland.
· The advice was to ring NHS 111 if you had any issues accessing an NHS dentist. However, appointments were still being prioritised by urgent need.
· Incentives for all NHS dental practices had been offered to prioritise patients not seen in the practice within the previous (24 months) adults and 12 months (children) who required urgent dental care.
· Routine access was still an issue along with workforce delivery.
· Acknowledgment of the issues that could arise from not having routine checkup appointments including early detection of any changes within the mouth including gum decease and early signs of mouth cancer.
· There continued to be national discussions and work taking place on dental system reform.
· A refresh of the Oral Health Needs Assessment was taking place which would look at capacity.
· The offer to deliver NHS dentistry needed to be attractive to dentists. Northumberland was a lovely place to live and work.
· NHS England would welcome the ongoing partnership work with the Council and Healthwatch.
Members thanked P. Fletcher for the presentation.
RESOLVED that the information be noted and for members to continue to be kept informed of progress made.