AVON LOCAL DENTAL COMMITTEE
Committee meeting
Held on Monday 24 February 2014 in the Cornwall Room, Castlemead, Bristol
Minutes
Present:
John Cantwell (Secretary), Lisa Davies, Brad Hall, Jon Jansen, Darren
Hills, Andrew House, Simon Khoury, Aidan Moran, George Schofield,
Tony Smith, Rob Snelling (Treasurer), Jane Timothy (Deputy Chair),
Alasdair Miller(Guest)
1. CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS
None. The Deputy Chair welcomed Alasdair Miller as Interim Chair of
the BNSSGS LDN.
He gave an outline of the history behind the NHS England
development. The LDN is being established formally over the summer
and in its current incarnation is developing workstreams and direction
of travel for advice to the Area Team on commissioning dental
services. The LDN is currently dominated by Somerset personnel and
the intention is to equalise representation across the patch. There were
some questions on the makeup of the LDN which were posed.
Urban/rural, large/small practices, numbers of primary care dentists to
attend. The first two issues seemed to engender artificial delineations
and were felt not to be too problematical. There was a strong feeling
that as the vast majority of dental commissioning occurs in primary
care that two members each of Avon and Somerset LDCs should be
part of the LDN. The core of the group to be kept relatively small
possibly meeting every two months and distribute workload to
dedicated Task and Finish Groups which will last six months or so.
The LDC is mindful that the LDN is likely to be the Area Team’s
primary contact and that as a body we must ensure the voice of the
LDC is heard on behalf of the membership.
Funding was discussed. Members of the LDC expressed concern that
there was no explicit funding for the LDN activity and that it was
being hoped that funds would be raised by the savings made in
transferring work from secondary care to primary. We were very
sceptical and nothing Alasdair Miller had to say on the topic offered
any reassurance. His message was to go along with it at present and see
if the Area Team deliver what they promise. The LDC view was that
this was likely to be a repeat of past promises on funding from the
commissioning bodies which were never carried out.
New national guidance is due in April from NHS England so the
situation may develop then.
There was then a discussion to try and agree principles for service
design. The LDC felt the principles to be sound but the underlying
detail did not exist to sufficiently judge any further.
This led to further discussion on the proposed tiering of primary dental
care delivery at basic, intermediate and specialist level. Again, some
agreement on how this would fit with the principles of service design
and managed clinical networks.
However, grave concern was raised about the funding of this in the
long term. So many strategies have been developed over the years that
have had inadequate funding that the profession as a whole and this
LDC in particular feels that unless explicit funding is shown to exist
that the changes will at best be fudged and at worst fail as has done the
UDA system.
Alasdair Miller was thanked for his input. The next LDN meeting is in
a few days. J Cantwell would attend.
2. APOLOGIES
Ian Biggerstaff, Tony Brooke, Carl Fullaway.
3. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The minutes were signed as an accurate record of the meeting.
4. MATTERS ARISING
NHS 111 still causing problems. Jane Timothy had been informed that
the discrepancies are because 111 uses a different database than NHS
Choices. Secretary to follow this up.
Also Area Team has not responded to other queries raised last time –
to chase up.
Elections – number of nominations less than places available so all
appointed. Some vacancies – two people wish to be co-opted onto the
LDC. Paul Drugan and Matt Ellis – both voted in unanimously.
5. NEW CONTRACT
Following the presentation from Alasdair Miller, the Committee
discussed some of the issues.
The primary concern was that funding would as has been the case
historically be inadequate to serve the population properly.
We agreed the Area Team must ensure that GDP input is heard.
We voted unanimously that in the absence of Area Team funding that
the LDC would reimburse members for attendance at meetings in the
usual way.
We would liaise with Somerset LDC.
6. TREASURER
Healthy bank balance, levy about to be collected.
.
7. REPORTS
GDPC recent meeting on contract reform. Little new to report.
Problems with PCR. Activity down some 40%. Treasury may end up
determining PCR under new contract. Concerns about weighted
captiation and how it will address inequalities.
8. CORRESPONDANCE
Letter from N Soms GMP regarding related GDP. Attached report on
how communication between dentist, PCT as was and GDC handled
and some recommendations. Secretary to read and respond.
9. AOB
Superannuation adjustments after associate/VT has left. G Schofield in
detailed communication about the problems this creates. Will keep us
updated.
There being no other business, the meeting was closed at 20.08.
DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS FOR 2014
26 March (BGM)
19 May
22 September
24 November