Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence from the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Bach, Councillor Johns and Councillor Thomas.

No items

Members with interests should refer to the agenda item and describe the nature of their interest when the item is considered.

Members were reminded that declarations of interest should be made as and when the specific agenda item to which they related was under discussion.

There were no Part II items.

To consider and discuss dental provision in the North Devon area

NOTE:  Appendices A to D provide responses to set questions that were sent to the panellists to seek their views prior to the publication of this Agenda.

a)    Partner at Torrington Dental Practice/Associate Professor of Primary Care Dentistry, Peninsula Dental School – Appendix A

b)    Specialist Orthodontis, (Exeter area) currently providing orthodontic provision for North Devon – Appendix B (to follow)

c)    Specialist Orthodontist (Bude) – Original provider of orthodontic provision in North Devon – Appendix C

d)    Area Development Manager My Dentist – Appendix D

At the start of the meeting Councillor Spear, Chair of the North Devon District Council Policy Development Committee welcomed North Devon and Torridge District Councillors and the public and advised on the format of the meeting. It was confirmed that both Committees would first run through the formal items on their agendas.

Councillor Patrinos (Dentistry Lead) was invited to start the discussion on Dentistry and welcomed the panel. Members were reminded of the reasons for calling the meeting and case studies were used to highlight the issues around access to provision locally and nationally.  It was explained that one of the panel – My Dentist - were now unable to attend the meeting, but had offered to answer any questions raised for them following the meeting.

The Panel introduced themselves and summarised their professional backgrounds in the local area:

•           Paul Waits – Specialist Orthodontist and Dentist

•           Ian Mills – Partner at Torrington Dental Practice and Associate Professor in Primary Care Dentistry at Peninsula Dental School. Chair of Devon Oral and Dental Health.

•           Chris Gooderham – Dentist with specialist interest in Orthodontics.

North Devon District Council Policy Development Committee were asked for their questions

The figure of £2 billion a year has been stated as the required level of funding needed to get Dentistry back to where it should be. The panel were asked if the figure felt right to them. 

Members were advised this would depend on the model of NHS dentistry care being provided. Detail regarding the current spend and allocation provided some context for members regarding the situation.

The panel reflect on the current economic situation and the impact this had on funding of NHS dental budgets. It was felt there needed to be responsible decision making at a higher level regarding what is done with the current dental budget and it was suggested this needed to be delivered more equitably than it is currently.

It was felt that NHS dentistry was not able to deliver the kind of service that was portrayed as the target with the current level of staffing and funding in place. The reliance on private sector to deliver aspects of care was highlighted. The lack of staff and training provision and the current NHS contract were highlighted as issues that needed to be considered and it was felt that just extra funding may not be the required fix.

Why had the current situation come about, what were the main problems and possible solutions?

Panel advised of the NHS contract changes launched in 2006 and explained in detail to members how the change in practice had impacted on provision – the banding and Unit of Dental Activity values were explained, in terms of treatment and their impact on provision of care – examples were then provided for context.

It was felt this was when a big exodus of staff began and the contract hadn’t improved since being introduced. It was felt that the Unit of Dental Activity system needed to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 263.