With the introduction of the 2006 General Dental Services (GDS) contract in England and Wales, dental services are now commissioned locally by primary care organisations (PCOs - Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Local Health Boards (LHBs)). PCOs work with Local Dental Committees (LDCs) on local need and demand and on general contracting issues affecting the locality. They negotiate with individual practitioners the terms, size and remuneration of each contract, usually through a tendering process. PCT commissioning is guided by government attainment targets in the annual NHS Operating Framework and the framework for commissioning excellence set out by World Class Commissioning.
In response to the varied experience throughout the country, the BDA commissioned a report into local commissioning of NHS dental services from an independent Working Group chaired by Professor Chris Drinkwater, President of the NHS Alliance. With representation from stakeholders and experts across the health sector, patient groups and local government, the working group was tasked with setting a framework for excellence in dentistry, based on World Class Commissioning and with a clear focus on commissioning for quality. The report was launched by Professor Chris Drinkwater on Tuesday 13 October 2009.
In support of the work undertaken by the independent group, the BDA is undertaking a programme of primary research. The research to date includes surveys of both PCO staff engaged in commissioning primary dental care and the secretaries of Local Dental Committees (LDCs) across England and Wales, addressing planning priorities, current use of creative commissioning and future commissioning plans and views on the relationships between PCOs and dental practitioners. Two case studies have also been conducted, providing an in-depth analysis of two examples of creative commissioning occurring in Doncaster, and Heart of Birmingham PCTs. Further details of this research including the full reports can be accessed from the local commissioning research link to the left of the screen.
Independent Local Commissioning Working Group members:
(Chair) Professor Chris Drinkwater CBE, President of the NHS Alliance; Dr Peter Bateman, Chair of the Salaried Dentists’ Committee; Elaine Cohen, Senior Policy Manager, NHS Confederation PCT Network; Dr Richard Emms, Chair of LDC Conference; Fiona Erne, Head of Primary Care Contracting, NHS Westminster; Paul Gardner, Director of Primary Care, Picker Institute Europe; Ros Hamburger, Consultant in Dental Public Health; Dr John Milne, Chair of the General Dental Practice Committee; Dr Jane Moore, member of the General Dental Practice Executive Committee; Dr Chris Potts, President of the British Dental Health Foundation; Cllr David Rogers, Chair of the Community Wellbeing Board, Local Government Association; Dr Susie Sanderson, Chair of the British Dental Association Executive Board; Professor Richard Watts, past President of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry.
