Issue - meetings

Purpose of the item: To advise the Committee of the current position regarding access to NHS Dental services in the county and actions being taken to improve access.

Witnesses:

Mark Nuti, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health

Liz Bruce, Joint Executive Director, Adult Social Care and Integrated Commissioning

Hugh O’Keeffe, Senior Commissioning Manager Dental

Lillian Nigrelli, Senior Delegated Commissioning Transition Manager, Dental Contracts Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Systems (ICS)

Rachael Graham, Director of Non Acute and Primary Care Contracts, Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Systems (ICS)

Nicola Airey, Director of Commissioning and Assurance, SRO Delegated Commissioning, Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB)

Rachel Thompson, Associate Director Primary Care Transformation, Lead Commissioner Dentistry Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB)

Key points raised during the discussion:

1. The Chairman asked what could be done to record information about residents who had tried and failed to access dental services. The Director of Commissioning and Assurance (SRO) explained that a consultation and engagement process with local communities had not yet taken place, however it was expected that the implementation of methods similar to those underway in other areas in addition to collaboration with partners with established links into communities would take place. The Director of Commissioning and Assurance (SRO) added that the link between deprivation and access to dental services required a commitment to engage with communities and welcomed any suggestions from Members regarding this.

2. The Chairman said that understanding the number of people that had failed to access dentistry was essential to recognise the size of the issue and asked why dentists were not required to record the number of people being turned away. The Chairman also suggested that the current opening hours of dental surgeries could result in some people not being able to access treatment. The Director of Commissioning and Assurance (SRO) explained that what could be mandated of dentists was influenced by the national dental contract. The Senior Commissioning Manager, Dental said that dentists were mandated to collect the data of patients treated to record the activities being delivered with no requirement to collect the data of those turned away, however the NHS contact centre did record and report on people that had made contact because of difficulties in accessing dentistry. Following a request from the Chairman, The Senior Commissioning Manager, Dental agreed to provide this data to the Select Committee including surveys of work being undertaken by partners in this area. Action – Senior Commissioning Manager, Dental/ Director of Commissioning and Assurance (SRO)

3. A Member, in referring to the new commissioning arrangements for dentistry outlined in the report, asked how effective the delegation agreement between NHS England and the Integrated Care Boards (ICB) was expected to be. The Director of Non Acute and Primary Care Contracts, Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System (ICS) explained that the agreement would define the roles and responsibilities of the ICB’s with NHS teams continuing to deliver services, impart experience to the ICB’s and afford the opportunity to bring commissioning closer to the patient, focusing on the provision and improvement of services for those in greatest need.

4. A Member asked how long it could be expected for NHS England officials to work with the ICB’s as referenced  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5