Deputy Chief Executive visits dentists to explore NHS dental provision expansion
The ICB’s deputy chief executive Michelle Arrowsmith visited a Chesterfield dental practice to discuss the challenges and opportunities of expanding dental provision in Derbyshire.
On her visit to Glumangate Dental Practice, she talked with staff including dentist and practice owner Dr Rami Khatib, who has been carrying out NHS work since he qualified in 2005.
The practice has more than 4,000 NHS patients on their list and is currently closed to new patients.
There are currently 16 practices open to new patients in Derbyshire and despite efforts to attract more dentists to carry out NHS work, this is a challenge for Derbyshire in line with the rest of the country.
Michelle said: “There are some real challenges for those dentists running a dental practice which delivers NHS care. But with this comes opportunity and locally we are implementing the national dental recovery plan to help alleviate some of the issues.”
The plan includes:
- increasing the unit of dental activity (the amount dentists get paid) price to £28
- giving dentists an additional payment ‘new patient premium’ to see new patients on the NHS
- incentivising dentists to work in the NHS in areas with workforce challenges.
Over 17% of children in Derby and Derbyshire have evidence of decay and Bolsover has almost a quarter of children with decay, compared to 8.8% in Derbyshire Dales. Children with decay have two to four decayed teeth each on average.
Dr Khatib, who is also chair of Derbyshire County Local Dental Committee said: “Like other areas of the NHS, dentistry is faced with challenges at the moment, but with these challenges comes opportunity. It was great to speak to Michelle about the work that is underway across Derbyshire to help us to offer dental care to more patients.
“Glumangate Dental Practice is one of around 11 practices in the region offering placements to trainee dentists to not only support with the wider workforce challenges, but also to help offer easier access to our services for our patients, and we are keen to do as much as we can to continue to support our community in and around Chesterfield.”
Michelle added: “Visiting Glumangate and other dental practices has really helped me appreciate the issues being faced by frontline teams. This insight from teams – and also the feedback from patients – helps inform our decision-making at a system level.
“What I have learned is that there are opportunities we can offer dentists beyond financial incentives. For example, we’re exploring how we can offer contracts that are as flexible as possible and ensure the availability of a wide range of opportunities to get involved in training and research with the larger dental schools and hospitals.”
For anyone looking for a dentist the NHS Find a Dentist Website displays the acceptance of NHS patients.
If you do not have a dentist and need urgent dental care, please ring NHS 111.
Dental practices are responsible for updating acceptance of patients on the NHS website and it is therefore subject to change.
However, our last search (in October) indicated that 16 practices are accepting NHS adults, children, and those entitled to free dental care. 12 practices state they are accepting children aged 17 and under, with one stating it is accepting adults aged 18 or over and adults entitled to free dental care.