Ian Biggs, Tess Fielding and Dr Lou Farbus (NHS England and Improvement) were present this item and joined the meeting virtually.  It was highlighted that:

·         Primary care and dental services had been impacted by the pandemic;

·         Continued focus on urgent care and for the medium and long term goal for everyone to access a dentist;

·         The Dental Reform Programme looking longer term at the oral health needs assessment.  This open to members of this board and would address oral health improvement and workforce;

·         Reinvesting into practices that can deliver more as well as providing practices that were struggling with advice and support;

·         Oral health of children vital in reform programme and identify children that were in need of help;

·         Coordinated approach to attract dentists similar to the GP prospectus.

Questions from Members related to:

The Cavell Centre;

The opportunity to use the loss of funding being given back when dental practices haven’t been able to deliver and to reinvest back into the community

The fluoride varnish scheme in which 24 primary schools benefit from and whether the provision of fluoride varnishing could be extended across the city so that every child be able to access this service.

Action plan being prepared and this would be available?

What kind of short term strategy was being brought in and timelines? 

The Board requested further information on the Dental Reform Programme and the timescales

The fluoridation of water process and whether this could be looked at by Health Scrutiny.

Ian Biggs added that NHS England and Improvement were working really hard to address the problems that they know exist within the city and gave assurance that the Dental Reform Programme was really important vehicle to address this.

The Board noted the update and requested that NHS England and Improvement:

1.    The Board to have sight of the action plan when available and to receive further information on the Dental Reform Programme.

2.    To continue to work with the city to achieve the level of improvement that the city aspires to be.

3.    To look at extra investment into the Cavell Centre to include NHS provision to maximise dental provision within the city.

4.    Collectively work with the city to expand the supervised tooth brushing scheme and fluoride scheme.