To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

There were two items of Chair’s Urgent Business:

The Chair advised Board members that the Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise had requested support for their ambition to increase student placements from 58, to 72 annually.

Rob Nelder (Public Health Specialist) added:

a)     The Dental School had previously increased its intake during the COVID-19 pandemic and had therefore demonstrated its capacity to train 72 students per year. It now sought to make this increase permanent, bringing placement numbers in line with other Dental Schools around across the country;

b)    The campaign aimed to secure broad support from local MPs, Councillors, and Health and Wellbeing Boards across Devon and Cornwall, recognising the regional benefits of retaining trained dentists locally;

c)     The Board was asked to support the campaign and write a letter of endorsement.

In response to questions, the Board discussed:

d)    Gratitude for the work of the Dental School and recognition of the regional benefits from retaining trained dentists locally;

e)     The importance of the Dental School in driving the city’s ambition to improve dental access;

f)      The importance of engaging with local schools to promote dental careers and strengthen the local pipeline;

g)     Ongoing collaboration between dental public health colleagues and the Dental School to expand the availability of local end-stage supervised placements;

h)    The forthcoming opening of the city centre dental practice in October/November 2025, which would serve as a training site for dental students, therapists, and hygienists.

The Chair advised Board members that details of the Comprehensive Spending Review (2025) had recently been published, which would have implications for health and social care. Further details would be brought to a future Board meeting when available.

The Board agreed to:

1. Write a letter of support for the Dental School’s campaign to increase annual student placements to 72, in line with other national dental schools;

2. Request that an update on the implications of the Comprehensive Spending Review are brought to a future Board meeting, when appropriate.