Agenda item

The Wellbeing PDS Panel is asked to note the PCT monitors quality of NHS Dentistry in B&NES.

The Chairman invited Greg Hartley-Brewer to read out his statement.

Mr Hartley-Brewer highlighted the following points in his statement:

• Dental Reference Officer’s report for a visit undertaken to Oldfield Park on 27^th May 2010
• ADP Oldfield Park not recording clinical data accurately
• Provision, or non-provision, of scale & polish in BANES
• Residents of Radstock and Chew Valley have to travel to access an NHS Dentist
• Use of the Dental Contract Management Handbook by the PCT
• The residents of BANES have had to put up with poor treatment in some practices for far too long and had to pay privately for treatments that should be available on the NHS

A full copy of the statement from Mr Hartley-Brewer is available on the minute book in Democratic Services.

The Panel thanked Mr Hartley-Brewer for his statement and for his contribution on tis matter.

The Chairman invited Julia Griffith (BANES NHS) and Nathan Brown (Dentist from the Parks Dental Practice in Keynsham) to introduce the report.

The Panel made the following points:

The Panel asked about the PCT’s dependency on self-assessments.

Julia Griffith explained that the self-assessment process depends on dentists reporting accurately.  The PCT would compare all of the self-assessments to see if there are any areas of weakness and where the support is needed.  The dentists were meant to be honest as they could be.  If the PCT identified areas of weaknesses then they would write to dentists and ask them to report back on actions they have taken to improve.  If there was a concern that the action plan was not carried out then the PCT would investigate further.  Every practice was visited by the Dental Reference Service.

The Panel asked about an issue that some people were denied access to the NHS dental treatment.

Julia Griffith said that there are number of areas in dental contract that were always grey areas.  For example scale and polishing – it is the role of the dentist to ensure that the patient is dentally fit and if the patient needs scale and polish for health reasons then it will be covered by the NHS.  If not then it will be private treatment.

The Panel asked about root canal treatment.

Julia Griffith responded that this is also an area that is challenging.  The NHS would provide the fee for that service and there are some procedures that will be covered with that.  The PCT realises that within the pay band some treatments are more costly or cheaper to carry out than others.  Overall this should balance out.

The Panel said that patient has little or no knowledge on what is wrong and what to expect so they heavily depend on the dentist to tell them.

Nathan Brown said that dentists have ethical responsibility and that they have to give patients options and choices. 

The Panel asked what percentage of BANES population has regular dental treatment and if there is dental plan for gypsies and travellers.

Julia Griffith responded that the PCT target of percentage of people having regular dental treatment is 59% and so far 58% of people regularly have access.  The PCT commissioned the community dental service for patients with special needs and also dental access centre which is for patients in pain (based in Riverside in central Bath).

Members of the Panel continued the debate with Julia Griffith and Nathan Brown and what should be a dental service covered by the NHS and what would be beyond NHS care.

As a result of the debate it was RESOLVED that the PCT request from all NHS Dentists to provide a clear guidance on treatments that are covered by the NHS and those treatments that are outside NHS care.