CDO Letter May Herald Level Playing Field For Referrals
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- Published: Friday, 04 November 2022 09:38
- Written by Peter Ingle
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Another month and another CDO letter from Sara Hurley to the diminishing band of dentists providing NHS dentistry.
The Chief Dental Officer does not send out these emails at a set interval, and whether their timing is dependent upon having something interesting to announce, or a need to fill a quiet moment in the office remains unclear. Some have more to interest GDP’s than others, and this one may be in that group.
This time for example, there is something about ‘dental system reform’ which may signify a further dilution of what was referred to as ‘contract reforms’, which in turn took over from the failed attempts to develop a new contract. To confirm the suspicion that we are truly back at square one the bulletin announces a series of focus groups since, “NHS England want to continue hearing from front- line dental teams to tackle further issues.”
The focus groups are for dental team members and will appropriately enough “focus around the following themes: Improving urgent care access, supporting access for new patients, re-orienting the system towards prevention and recruitment and retention, and helping dental teams to feel part of the NHS.” This may be all that the foundation dentists who are amongst those invited to join the groups, may need to know to assist them in their career planning.
Readers interested in taking part can submit an expression of interest via www.pcc-cic.org.uk/dsr .
Those interested in joining the groups, should know that applications for DCP’s and business support will close on the 6th, and for contractors and associates on the 20th.
Possibly of greater significance may be the announcement of Clinical Guides that have been developed. Described as an “overarching standard” and coming complete with “associated appendices” they will be derived from the already existing commissioning standards and guides. These look at specific specialities and areas of dental care. The move to an online platform is heralded as allowing “regular review and revision in line with current policy and practice.” The bulletin continues, “it will be necessary to review and update the standards regularly.”
The recently updated “clinical standard for restorative dentistry” sets out to provide a standardised framework for local commissioning of specialist restorative dentistry services.
B1640-clinical-standard-restorative-dentistry.pdf (england.nhs.uk)
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