The NHS introduced its “world class commissioning” programme in 2007 and for some time the optimistic phrase appeared on a variety of communications. Along with “high trust environment” it is a three word expression that guaranteed a weary sigh from those dentists who experienced it.
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The new NHS England workforce plan contains a generous assortment of initiatives to try and increase numbers across healthcare. Most are not as controversial as the proposed compulsory NHS service for new dental graduates.
A new survey has confirmed that the cost of living crisis is damaging child dental health. Three hundred & thirteen members of the School and Public Health Nurses Association (Saphna) and the British Dental Association were asked about the impact of changes to children’s diet resulting from increasing prices, upon their health.
Read more: New Survey Shows Effect Cost of Living Crisis Has on Child Dental Health
The GDC has developed an enthusiasm for commissioning research. Registrants, of course, fund this through their registration fees. Using their website News pages, the Council has recently reported on two new pieces of research that it has commissioned. One relates to the public’s views and experiences of dentistry, and the other considered the enhanced CPD scheme.
The media narrative of dental deserts appears to have been replaced by dental detention centres. The government announcement on healthcare workforce development, NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (england.nhs.uk) , contains a plethora of promises with one aim. That is to convince the electorate that the NHS can be somehow be kept in its present form, and also manage to meet their 21st century expectations.
In March 2022 a working group of indemnity providers was formed to discuss patient safety. Led by Jason Wong (Deputy Chief Dental Officer for England), and run by Jyoti Sumel (Dental Therapist and NHSE – Midlands (WT&E) Clinical Leadership Fellow) with support from a group of key stakeholders including the regulators, the group is a branch of Project Sphere.
Read more: Indemnity Providers Link Up To Promote Safety And Sound Advice
It is just over a month since the outgoing CDO officially announced their departure to spend more time with her directorships. Despite having told NHS National Medical Director - Sir Stephen Powis, of her intention last year, it may be a while before we know who her permanent replacement will be.
Anyone reading a newspaper, watching the news, or glancing at social media will know that the UK has huge problems with access to dental care. GDPUK now only rarely writes about practices closing, leaving the NHS, or ‘dental desert stories,’ as our readers have seen so many already.
Amidst all the speculation surrounding how the NHS might respond to mounting concern about the consequences of clawback on practices, a letter (dated 19th June) from Ali Sparke, ‘Director for Pharmacy, Optometry, Dentistry and the NHS Standard Contract NHS England’ removed all doubt.