December 2023
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This conference focuseed on key priorities and next steps for dentistry in England.
Delegates discussed next steps for service recovery following pandemic disruption, with funding from the Government last year aimed at managing backlogs.
Policymakers and dentistry stakeholders assessed findings from the Health and Social Care Select Committee inquiry published in the summer, which looked at access to NHS dentistry, the Dental Contract and the workforce. Sessions in the agenda looked at next steps, including issues around workforce retention and the future sustainability of the profession.
The conference was also an opportunity to discuss the 2022-2023 contract reform agreements, focusing on impact so far and the way forward as integrated care systems implement their responsibilities for commissioning dentistry services, as well as the role of dentistry within development of ICSs, and prospects for further development and support for dentistry.
Delegates looked at priorities for delivering efficient oral healthcare and the wider drive to improve prevention, including the impact of pooled budgets, and priorities for building dental teams.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Stefan Czerniawski, Executive Director, Strategy, General Dental Council; Professor Rebecca Harris, Honorary Consultant in Dental Public Health, University of Liverpool; Edward Jones, Senior Policy Advisor, ICS Network, NHS Confederation; and Wendy Crew, Advisor, Primary Care Commissioning.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- service restoration: addressing backlogs, in balance with safety and infection control - balancing routine appointment catch-up with delivering emergency dental care - the impact of funding
- dental contract reform: possible outcomes and implications for the sector - providing clarity following prototype practices being dropped - impact of the pandemic
- workforce: assessing reform to dentistry education and training - progress since the Advancing Dental Care Review - concerns around retention and the future sustainability of the profession
- integrated care: the role of dentistry within ICSs, as well as the wider focus on prevention - changes to commissioning - the impact of pooled budgets on dentistry
- accessibility: identifying and overcoming barriers to access - improving the availability of services - addressing health inequalities
- integrated oral care: the role of dentistry in preventative healthcare - the impact of commissioning changes
- professional regulation: the priorities and outlook for reform for the dentistry profession - options for streamlining and efficiency - standards and support for the sector
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from DHSC; Department of Health, ROI; HM Treasury; and NAO.
