Agenda item

To consider a report setting out a current update on dental services across York, providing a focus on services and the local and national direction for the future of NHS dentistry.

The committee considered a report setting out a current update on dental services across York, providing a focus on services and the local and national direction for the future of NHS dentistry.

The Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership’s Primary Care Programme Lead provided an overview, and in response to members’ questions it was noted that:

·       Recent data suggested dental access for adults continued to fall while access for children was increasing; it was not yet clear if the latter was due to the impact of child-only contracts. Access to urgent appointments had improved. The impact of the handing back of a provider contract in 2022 was emphasised; it had taken until December 2024 for another practice to take on the affected patients.

·       The Prevention, Access, and Treatment (PAT) programme involved dentists and dental nurses visiting participating schools; having started in the East Riding the scheme was being rolled out across the whole Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) area. Work was underway to integrate the additional elements of the PAT scheme with existing Public Health programmes such as supervised toothbrushing; and the ICB was liaising with local authority colleagues to identify practices and schools to take part.

·       Dental services for care homes were provided through community dentistry services, and the ICB was considering ways to expand the service. Best value considerations affected the feasibility of offering a dental van service to rural areas; it was noted that only certain kinds of work could be done in a van, and managing the process would require significant resource; as such increasing the availability of urgent appointments had been prioritised.

·       Four practices in York were taking part in child only contracts; the availability of funding was the main barrier to more practices signing up.

·       Reports from dental practices suggested that routine check-ups accounted for most of the increase in children’s access. With reference to flexible commissioning practices, children in care had always been included on the priority list, and care leavers had now also been added.

·       Much feedback from dentists related to issues with the dental contract, and as such the government’s interest in contract reform was to be welcomed. With reference to recruitment, it was noted that there was no dental training institute within York and North Yorkshire, but that work was being done to attract those from the area who had trained elsewhere to return within the NHS. The ICB was looking to engage with local authorities around incentives and housing to encourage trained dental staff into the NHS locally and welcomed a partnership approach.

·       The ring-fence on dental budgets within the ICB area had been maintained. There was a budget for all contracted activities, and providers had to pay back for services not delivered; this money was then used to reinvest in urgent access. It was an ambition to incorporate more delivery into contracts.

Resolved:   To note the report.

Reason:     To keep the committee updated on the current position in respect of dental services across York.