Agenda item

(To receive a report from NHS England and NHS Improvement – Midlands, which provides an overview of the NHS dental services commissioned in Lincolnshire and an update on the current challenges and commissioning intentions to improve NHS dental services and oral health across Lincolnshire.  Carole Pitcher, Primary Care Senior Contract Manager, NHS England and NHS Improvement – Midlands, Jane Green, Primary Care Senior Contract Manager, NHS England and NHS Improvement – Midlands and Jason Wong, Chair of the Lincolnshire Local Dental Network will be in attendance for this item)

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Carole Pitcher, Primary Care Senior Contract Manager, NHS England/NHS Improvement, Jane Green, Primary Care Senior Contract Manager, NHS England/NHS Improvement, and Jason Wong, MBE, Chair of Lincolnshire Local Dental Network.

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee extended congratulations to Jason Wong on receiving his MBE in the recent New Year's Honours List.

The Committee was advised that NHS England and NHS Improvement had aligned to form seven new regional footprints.  It was noted that the regional office covering Lincolnshire was the Midlands Region.  It was noted further that the new Midlands region had two localities which were West and East Midlands; and that Lincolnshire was part of the East Midlands locality along with Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicester City, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire.

Details of the 70 contracts in Lincolnshire providing NHS dental service were shown in the report.  Details of the procurement process outcomes were shown on page 87 of the report.  Disappointment was expressed to the fact that no preferred bidders had been identified for three lots in Lincolnshire, those being Mablethorpe, Spalding A (Johnson Community Hospital) and Skegness/Spilsby.  It was highlighted that the Midlands local dental team were working with the preferred bidders identified for the five awarded lots.

It was reported that since the withdrawal of Bupa Dental Care from the NHS provision of dental services in Mablethorpe, a review of interim options were being considered.  It was noted that expressions of interest had been received from existing providers to deliver urgent dental care sessions from the dental practice based in Marisco Centre, Mablethorpe for a twelve month period; and that discussions were on-going.

The Committee was advised that in-line with Department of Health guidance, orthodontic contracts had been nationally extended to 31 March 2019, or beyond, depending on the Regional timeline for procurement.  It was highlighted that in Lincolnshire the current PDS contracts were due to expire on 1 May 2020; and that the new regional teams in the Midlands and East were currently considering the options to re-procure the services.

It was reported that it had been identified that there was a significant issue with recruiting dentists to work within the NHS across Lincolnshire and it was acknowledged that this was becoming an increasing pressure nationally.  It was reported further that the Local Dental Network Chair for NHS England and NHS Improvement – Midlands had established a working group to review the recruitment and retention issues being experienced; and to developing a strategy to improve the dental workforce in Lincolnshire.  The Committee was also advised that to support dentist recruitment, NHS England and NHS Improvement – Midlands were developing a business case to establish an international recruitment pilot for Lincolnshire based on the successful GP international recruitment programme. The Committee was also advised that a career event had been held in Lincoln to promote the dental pathways and that a copy of the presentation would be circulated to schools in Lincolnshire.   A link to the presentation was included on page 90 of the report presented.  The Committee noted that further events were planned.  A further presentation to promote working as a dental health care professional in Lincolnshire had also been created for circulation to all stakeholders including dental core trainees and foundation Dentists, a link to which was provided on page 91 of the report presented.

Other actions mentioned were the recruitment of two fellow dentists to work in Lincolnshire to support delivering the Local Dental Network work programme; and the creation of two joint posts for dental trainees.

It was reported that a Performer List by Validation of Experience process had been established, which would enable non-EU qualified dentists to be assessed by Health Education England to make sure they had the necessary knowledge and experience, which would help recruiting dentists outside the European Union.

The Committee noted that NHS England and NHS Improvement continued to work closely with Health Education England to develop training programmes to support developing the dental workforce.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following issues:-

·         Concern was expressed to the lack of dentist provision along the coastal area;

·         Lack of information readily available to members of the public regarding provision available to them.  Representatives agreed to produce a document advising them what arrangements were in place, and where provision would be available.  It was agreed that the Health Scrutiny Officer would distribute the above said information to all members of the Committee;

·         Shortage of dentists in Lincolnshire – Representatives reiterated the work being done to encourage young people to look at the dental pathways;

·         Retention of trained dentists.  The Committee was advised that the number of practices were stable at the moment; but most newly qualified dentists were attracted to the areas in which they trained;

·         Confirmation was given that a dentist could do both NHS and private work;

·         Problems with contract reforms.  It was highlighted that offers needed to be attractive enough to draw the workforce in and that this was a problem;

·         Orthodontic procurement options, a question was asked as to whether the initial procurement areas on district council boundaries were flawed.  The Committee was advised that at the moment this question could not be answered;

·         Two dental prototype commissioning contracts.  The Committee was advised that one contract was in Leicestershire the other in Lincolnshire.  It was highlighted that at the moment there was no information available to share with the Committee;

·         Dental marketing event – It was agreed that details of the marketing event would be shared with members of the Committee after the meeting; and

·         International recruitment drive – Some concern was expressed as to why it had taken so long to establish an international recruitment drive.  The Committee was advised that there was recognition that international recruitment needed to be moved on, but as at this moment, no timescale was known.

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee extended thanks to the representatives for their update on NHS Dental Services in Lincolnshire.

RESOLVED

1.    That the report on NHS Dental Services Overview for Lincolnshire be noted and that a further update be received in twelve months' time or at a time of the new contract procurement being issued.

2.    That a request be made to NHS England/NHS Improvement for information that members of the Committee and other stakeholders, such as district councils, could share with local communities on the availability of dentists, particularly in the Mablethorpe, Spalding and Spilsby areas.