Kenny's Update 14th of March

March 14th Lincolnshire LDC Update Number 49

Dear all,

From my perspective, there is a feeling at the moment as if we are like a swan……………. Swimming along steadily but beneath the water, paddling furiously.

Most NHS practices are working towards their 45% threshold for Q4. Private practices and mixed practices with a significant private element, are working hard to try to regain lost income during the pandemic. It would seem that demand for private treatment has not gone away and some reports are suggesting it is in fact increasing.

NHS practices, I know, had been hoping for an indication this week of the activity target for the quarter starting April 1ST. NHSE have been waiting for data up to the end of February before considering their position. As always everything is last minute and gives practices very little option to plan ahead. I know Jason and Shawn will be doing their bit to ensure we get as fair an offer as possible ……….. However the Treasury will inevitably have the last say.

When will I get my second Vaccination?

A question that has been asked of the LDC many times, particularly over the last few weeks.

I am aware that some PCNs and vaccination sites gave out appointments for the second dose straight after the first. These sites, however, were the minority. Everyone who has been vaccinated is tracked individually, but the reason why second appointments have not been made, is that vaccination sites are given only a 10 day window for delivery of the drug. So far, there have been no significant problems with availability of the second vaccination, but a bit like the first dose, everything will happen at short notice. For front line staff such as dental teams, the stated aim is to provide the second dose within 11-12 weeks of the first and to date, NHSE is on schedule to provide this. We just have to be patient and wait to be contacted.

Integrated Care Systems

Something for everyone to get their heads round. These systems will be the future of the NHS and become statutory in 2022. They will shape how services will be delivered at a local level. ICSs will take over the role currently performed by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and as the name implies, the intention is to integrate the services currently provided in primary care ie Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Optometry. It is early days and much is unknown, but I will be regularly updating you on this topic as the implications for Dentistry in Lincolnshire could be wide ranging and significant.

Dentistry in Care Homes and Nursing Homes

The provision of dental care in Care Homes and Nursing Homes is something that has been mooted for some time and in my other role as Co-Chair of the Gerodontology MCN,we have been pushing hard on this agenda. Dental care for the elderly has very much been a neglected area, especially in Lincolnshire. Currently NHS domiciliary care is provided by the Special Care Service but their resources are limited and stretched to breaking point. A call out might involve a trip from Lincoln to the East Coast for a relatively simple procedure a GDP could carry out. If the service was more local, less time would be wasted on travel and we would have a more efficient service, beneficial to all concerned.

A business plan to involve Primary Care Dentists has at last been approved and pilots have been approved for Lincolnshire. It is early days and much has to be done but I hope many practices would consider getting involved, as we envisage a whole team approach involving not just dentists but DCPs, hygienists, therapists and clinical dental technicians.

Again, we will keep you updated, but care of the elderly is very much part of the NHS Long Term Plan and will be funded in a different way.

And finally ……………….Please remember to update your own NHS Choices website. This has to be done within a 90 day cycle . A big thank you to Practices who, even though they may not taking on new patients have kindly agreed to see children who are in pain, and / or on a Children in Need or Children in Protection plan. I have sent out a survey from HEE regarding a network for DCPs. Will you please ensure this is forwarded and seen by all DCPs in your Practice. Thank you.

Have a good week and stay safe and well

Best wishes

Kenny Hume Chair Lincolnshire LDC