Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the NHS Haringey draft Oral Health Needs Assessment.

The Committee received the draft Oral Health Needs Assessment for the commissioning of local dental services for the next three years, presented by Tina Raphael (Dental Commissioning Manager, NHS Haringey) and Fiona Wright (Associate Director of Public Health – NHS Haringey).

Ms Raphael explained that figures for people accessing dental services and figures for general oral health in Haringey were above the London average although dental services were not spread evenly across the Borough.

The Committee expressed concerns that costs for dentists to be located in polyclinics and health centres discouraged them from setting up in these buildings.

Ms Raphael explained that prior to 2006 dentists could claim funding each time a patient was treated but a new system had recently been put in place where dentists were required to enter into a contract with the Primary Care Trust (PCT) in order to provide NHS services.  There were 50 Haringey dentists currently signed up to PCT contracts and they were monitored to ensure that they performed the level of activity as set out in their contract and that they provided all NHS services.

It was noted that Haringey was well served by dentists but that numbers of people using dental services had fallen since 2006.  It was noted that in some areas the uptake of services was low, but that this was not necessarily due to lack of provision but might be the result of a lack of knowledge about services. The committee expressed support for the proposal of a communications strategy to publicise available services and suggested that the Council might be able to assist in this.

A proportion of Haringey residents sought dental treatment in other boroughs, but this was matched by a roughly equal number of non-Haringey residents seeking dental treatment in Haringey. Haringey residents could call the Dental Access Helpline on 020 8370 8217 to find out where local dentists were located.  

The Committee expressed concerns about older people accessing services easily.  Ms Wright explained that there was limited data on the different groups and their access to dentistry.

Ms Raphael informed the Committee that data showed that older people were concerned about charges for dental treatment and noted the above mentioned Dental Access Helpline can give information about how older people could be assisted in paying for their treatment.

The Committee suggested the NHS conducted social marketing (marketing aimed at improving social well-being by changing attitudes and behaviour) to publicise the dental services available.

The Committee asked for a briefing note on the percieved demand for dentistry and laten capacity in the Borough.

The Committee also noted that in Scotland there was free dental care and wondered what the potential costs would be for a similar scheme in Haringey.

The Chair thanked NHS representatives for the report and requested an update be provided to the Committee in 6 months time.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.