Meeting 27th November 2024
THE HUNTINGDON MARRIOTT HOTEL
DIRECTOR’S BOARDROOM
WEDNESDAY 27th NOVEMMBER 2024
7.30 START
MINUTES
1. Attendees:
Patrik Zachrisson LDC Chairman & Treasurer
Mariana De Villiers LDC Administrator
Amiras Chokshi LDC Secretary
Julia Hallam-Seagrave Head of Dental Service / Specialist in Special Care Dentistry
Marlise De Vos
Abigail Bridson
Jessica Wyatt
Kaushal Patel
Curt McKenzie
Claire Jackman
2. Guest:
Hamza Zaman
3. Apologies:
Francis Scriven
Prashant Patel
Ricky Worraker
Bharpur Sanghera
Peter Mullins
4. Chairman’s/Treasurer’s Report: Patrik Zachrisson
Treasurer’s report:
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough LDC continues to be financially stable and secure.
The LDC continues funding towards Hepatitis B vaccinations, Needlestick injuries and Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks, as well as Courses for Dental Nurses. Funding available to all NHS dental practices in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who are providing NHS dental services.
The LDC has further supported BDA talks. It was agreed that the LDC would continue to provide some sponsorship for another year.
Chairman’s Report
No significant developments or changes have been reported. There are concerns that developments regarding contract reform have slowed down. Shortages of NHS Dental providers remain problematic. As patients remain unable to find an NHS Dentist, practices are providing more private treatments than treatments on the NHS. Underperforming NHS Dental Practices are generally expecting clawback.
There are still long waiting lists for NHS Orthodontic treatment at most practices. It was reported that the NHS orthodontic waiting list at Antwerp House in Cambridge was reduced to 1 month waiting time. Some orthodontic providers have accepted extra UOA’s.
The LDC website remains underutilised. Ways to promote the increase in use of the website were discussed. Amiras Chokshi to promote the LDC at next the BDA sponsored event. The possibility of creating an Instagram page for the LDC was discussed.
5. Julia Hallam-Seagrave
The Dental Access Centre remains inundated with patients needing dental treatment. There are many more patients than capacity.
The referral rate for Special Care Services remains the same. Adult sedation services (IV) are being provided. There is a slight lengthening in waiting times due to 2 vacancies in Wisbech branch. Average time is around 28 weeks.
The new Labour Government promised 700 000 more urgent appointments by end of March 2025. However, recruitment across the dental team remains challenging.
There are talks of having a new dental school in Norwich. The course would probably be offered through The University of East Anglia working closely with the Norwich hospital.
6. Secretary’s Report: Amiras Chokshi
LDC representation at the GDPC is open for election. Amiras has agreed to apply.
Northern Ireland dentists can continue to use dental amalgam until 31 December 2034, or until the date agreed by the global Minamata Convention, to which the UK is a signatory, whichever is earlier. The EU wanted to ban mercury metal-based fillings (dental amalgam) in dentistry on 1 January 2025 but this has been delayed.
DDRB and contract uplift:
The Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body (DDRB) has recommended a 6% increase from 1st April 2024. The uplift has still not been processed. It is expected to be paid early March 2025, backdated to 1st April 2024. It is expected to be between 4 – 6%.
Integrated Care Boards (ICB’S):
ICBs gained commissioning responsibility for NHS Dentistry in April 2023. Also focussing on improving local access. Many patients are unable to find an NHS Dentist and some are taking to “DIY” dentistry.
Clawback appears to be at a very high level. It was noted that for a lot of dental practices struggling to remain viable, this will probably be enough to force them to close. Some corporates cannot reach their targets and some have not enforced clawback for many years.
As clawback money from Dentistry is not ringfenced money would be directed away from dentistry.
New Patient Premium (NPP):
Dental practices have benefited from extra cash for taking on new NHS patients from Friday 1 March 2024, in an attempt to make more dental appointments available.
Participating NHS practices benefited from payments of either £50 or £15, depending on care, for each new patient treated. This applied to any patient who has not seen an NHS dentist over the past 2 years. The level of the payment is on top of existing funding the practice receives for treating patients. Although effective in encouraging dentists to take on new patients, remuneration remained insufficient.
IQVIA:
The management consultancy company IQVIA has been approached to investigate NHS dentistry and how to improve the service. IQVIA engaged with local communities and dental practices. Their findings indicated that NHS treatment is highly subsidised by private work and that at least 30% uplift in fees would be required to break even. IQVIA would like to pilot with practices but there is a hold on funding. The aim is to start in April.
7. Other Business
The LDC will be hosting a 2 hour VERIFIABLE CPD event on Wednesday evening 22nd of January 2025. The speaker for this evening is EDDIE CROUCH, CHAIR OF THE BDA. Eddie qualified in 1984 and is an accomplished dental surgeon in many fields. He served on committees and has a special interest in the political aspect of dentistry. Eddie represents the interests of Dentists and Dental students in the UK and we are looking forward to welcoming Eddie.
All current members of the LDC were re-elected.
8. Next Meeting:
12th February 2025
