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September 11th Lincolnshire LDC Update Number 58
As I write this update, I am thinking of events twenty years ago in New York. No one could possibly imagine what lay ahead that day and how many lives were to be lost. I’m sure most of us can remember where we were and what we were doing when the news broke. Such a sad and shocking day.
To the present, I feel September is like the start of a new term. Summer has gone ……… and I hope you have all managed to have break away from work and could recharge. The frequency of meetings the LDC represent you in will now increase as there is much on the horizon. More of this later.
For NHS practices, we will know our activity targets for Q3 and Q4 by the end of September. I hope I am wrong, but the likelihood is that these figures will again be made available at the very end of the month. This makes planning difficult but I hope as before, practices will be given the target to meet for the next 6 months, not just the next 3.
LDN (Local Dental Network)
Some of you may have noticed that I have been appointed to the Chair of the LDN for Lincolnshire. This is a similar position to that previously held by Jason, although Jason had the combined role for Lincolnshire, Leicestershire & Rutland and Northamptonshire and for a time Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire as well. The new ICS (Integrated Care System) footprint in the East Midlands means that my role will be to represent Lincolnshire only. This will be plenty in itself!
The aim of all LDNs is “to ensure that the right treatment gets to the right person at the right time in the most appropriate place and is delivered by a clinician with appropriate training and resources.” When you take a step back and look at this statement you can see the challenges that lie ahead for Lincolnshire.
So you are aware, LDN Chairs are not Commissioners of services and do not have any direct decision making powers. The LDN Chair however does have influence and provides clinical leadership.
We all know the many issues affecting dental services in Lincolnshire and therefore the challenges before us. Most rural counties share similar problems to ourselves with lack of access and recruitment and retention a main concern. These concerns are shared both in the NHS and Private sector.
Can Practices Do Anything to Help?
In previous updates, you may remember me discussing the work of the Talent Academy and the Aspiring Dentist Programme in relation to workforce issues and the involvement of the LDC. I am pleased to let you know that this coming academic year sees the first group of our attendees entering Dental School. Let’s hope many more follow this pathway and return to Lincolnshire to practice.
Covid meant that work experience students missed out on work experience but this no longer applies. Our own practice had two year 12 students In August. Both were excellent and highly motivated. It is easy to say no, but please give students who apply to your practice a chance. Please put yourselves in their position. It can be a very rewarding experience for all parties and they may be your colleagues one day!
HMRC and Associates: No change on self-employment
HMRC has for many years accepted that associate dentists are almost always self-employed. Its guidance has included mention of the BDA associate agreement in its employment status manual, but as of April 2023, this paragraph will be withdrawn.
The withdrawal of this guidance will have NO impact on the self-employed status of the majority of associate dentists. Indeed, HMRC has told us that this is a change to their guidance, not a change to the self-employment status of associate dentists. They have simply stopped making reference to third party advice in their own guidance. The National Association of Dental Accountants and Lawyers, the experts on the dental sector, also say the change in guidance will have minimal impact.
The True Dental Emergency
Practice answer phones typically contain a message detailing what is a dental emergency and give a number for the patient to contact.
Thankfully, we all are aware that very few patients contact us for a swelling that affects the airway, uncontrolled bleeding or extensive trauma. These events do happen but they are rare. However what is the pathway for such an emergency that cannot be dealt with in your own practice?
For such emergencies during working hours, call the hospital 01522 512512 and ask for OMFS on-call or ring OMFS reception 01522 573495 ask for the on call team.
Outside working hours, ring switch board 01522 512512 and ask for OMFS on-call.
If you deem an emergency to be life threatening dial 999.
Lincolnshire LDC Website & General Communication
A Sub Committee has been set up to develop our website and look at effective ways of communication to our various practitioners and dental team members. Our aim would be that the website is used to post our Updates and for practitioners to access clinical information such as from SDCEP, antibiotic prescribing and trauma pathways and advice. We would like this to be the “go to“place for all members of the dental team for this type of information.
As regards other forms of communication and social media, there is much to choose. We are looking at various options and would welcome any personal input anyone may have.
And finally ………….the implementation of SNOMED seems to excited one or two. Essentially it is a software system to standardise treatment codes and as such your software supplier should have already carried out these changes automatically. I believe there may have been issues with R4 but SOE and other main providers appear to have actioned the appropriate changes.
A date for your dairy ……………Our meeting on Tuesday 2nd November will be an open meeting starting at 7pm. Details to follow .
I hope you all have a good month
Best wishes
Kenny Hume Chair Lincolnshire LDC
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