Steele pilots will start on 1 April 2010

The Department of Health has announced that the first wave of Steele pilots will start on 1 April 2010. There are over 30 dental practices involved in this wave in 27 PCT areas. Please see the members’ guidance in the downloads below (titled: Steele pilots briefing for members) if you submitted an application for the first wave of pilots or if you have or intend to express interest in the second wave of pilots.

The deadline for expressions of interest in the second wave of pilots is Friday 19 March, and they are scheduled to begin in September. As more information about the second wave of pilots becomes available we will update this guidance. Expressing an interest at this stage does not commit you to involvement.

Steele Pilots: second wave for 'expressions of interest'

On 25 February the Department of Health issued a second round of letters inviting expressions of interest for the first wave of Steele pilots. The letter from this second round of mailings can be downloaded from the bottom of this page.

The original letters were due to have been sent on the 10 February with a closing date for expressions of interest as 19 February. Unfortunately, due to an administrative error, most letters did not arrive until the closing date for expressions of interest. The second letters extend the deadline to 5 March for the first wave of pilots but the deadline for expressions of interest in the second wave of pilots remains 19 March.

The first wave of pilots will involve providers who are, or will be, running new blended contracts by 1 April. To qualify for a first wave pilot you must fulfil this requirement or be a provider who is piloting a specific facet of the Steele recommendations, either through an existing contract or a new contract beginning in April. If you do not meet these requirements you may still be eligible for the second wave of pilots, scheduled to commence in September. The specific models to be piloted are currently being determined by the Programme Board.

Expressing an interest at this stage does not commit you to involvement in a pilot but it will ensure you have access to further information should you be interested.