The agenda and joining details for the LDC meeting to be held at Chelmsford GC on Monday 27th November 2023 (6.30pm) have been shared via e-mail. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Flexible Commissioning GuidanceNew updated guidance has been published for commissioners. The ‘Opportunities for flexible commissioning in primary care dentistry: A framework for commissioners’ provides ICBs with an outline of the legal requirements of the national dental contractual framework and highlights the key considerations associated with procuring additional and further services, previously termed ‘flexible commissioning’.
This guidance is intended to support commissioners with the following opportunities:
Additional investment into new or existing contracts to address areas of need including;
increased contracting of mandatory services,
commissioning additional capacity for advanced mandatory services, sedation and domiciliary services and orthodontics,
commissioning additional capacity for dental public health services and/or further services.
Reallocation of existing contractual funding away from mandatory services into new priorities (commissioned as additional or further services);
Local negotiation of indicative rates for units of dental activity (UDAs) or units of orthodontic activity (UOAs).
The contents of this guidance should be considered alongside the Policy Book for Primary Dental Services and the national dental contractual framework. Commissioners should continue to give due regard to national procurement guidance. Organisational standing orders and standing financial instructions should also be observed when implementing any aspects of this guidance.
Further guidance is being developed in order to further inform Integrated care systems (ICSs) of opportunities for dental and oral health teams to contribute to tackling health inequalities and improving the health of the population.
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The appointment of two Deputy Chief Dental Officers for England
We are pleased to announce and welcome two new Deputy Chief Dental Officers for England.
Professor Nick Barker (left) qualified as a General Dental Practitioner in 1990 and is a Principal Dentist in Colchester. He has been a Local Dental Network Chair in Essex since 2013, providing clinically-led commissioning of primary and secondary care dental services across the county. He is a Professor of Oral Health Sciences at University of Essex and programme lead in the MSc in Periodontology for dentists and MSc in Advanced Periodontal Practice for hygienists and therapists. He has been a senior clinical policy advisor to the Chief Dental Officer since July 2023, leading on work including the medicines exemptions programme , dental reform and medico-legal matters. Nick joins us substantively in the Deputy Chief Dental Officer role.
Mr Shabir Shivji (right) joins the Office of the Chief Dental Officer on a fixed term basis until March 2024. Shab is an NHS associate dentist in Kent, having qualified from Sheffield University in 1995. Shab has worked as part of NHS England since 2016 when he took the role of NHS England Dental Clinical Advisor. Since then he has fulfilled a number of roles including Senior Dental Advisor to CVD Prevention in General Dental Practice Programme, Regional Dental Advisor for the Workforce, Training and Education Directorate, National Health and Justice Dental Advisor. and since 2022 Shab has been a CORE20PLUS5 Ambassador, promoting the importance of reducing healthcare inequalities across the healthcare system.
Nick and Shab will work alongside Jason Wong, Interim Chief Dental Officer England, in collaboration with local and regional teams to deliver improved outcomes for patients; continuing the necessary work to recover capacity and capability of our NHS dental care services and maintaining a focus on dental system and contract reform.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Westcliff High School for Boys Mock Interviews for Medics/Dentists Volunteers are requested to assist with another set of mock interviews for our aspiring medics and dentists at Westcliff High School for Boys. The mock interviews will take place on Monday 13th November 9am-3:30pm. These interviews can be in-person or online. The interviews will be happening all day but if you are able to assist with some part of the day, that would be really helpful. Contact Miss E Lo : LOE@whsb.essex.sch.uk Tel: 01702 475443 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kind regards, Clint Foreman (Asst. Sec. Essex LDC)