In its evidence to the consultation on ‘Model Regions’, that forms part of the merger of NHS England into the Department of Health and Social Care, we underlined the essential role these dentists play at a time of widening inequality, and with the Government attempting a strategic shift from sickness to prevention.
The official response shared with postholders yesterday, reveals the net losses. There were historically 1.85 Whole-Time-Equivalent (WTE) DPH consultant posts built into the South West region. The original consultation proposed 1 WTE in the new region, however the outcome report has increased this to 1.3, following our pressure, with support from allies at British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD).
In the Midlands, there were 7 WTE posts built into the region. The original consultation proposed 2 WTE posts move into the new Office of Pan ICB Commissioning (OPIC). The outcomes report has now changed this to 3 WTE posts. However, this additional 1 WTE was secured by turning a Public Health post into a Dental Public Health post.
The full picture in other regions remains unclear, and we are pressing for answers.
“We have argued forcibly to defend and expand the vital dental public health role,” says our Chair Eddie Crouch.
“We’ve made NHS England exercise some restraint here, but it does not go far enough to protect a vital function.
“We’ve curbed these plans, but cuts still run deep, and any protection here shouldn’t be at the expense of Public Health colleagues.
“The Government likes to talk the talk on prevention. It will not be able to deliver on that agenda without a serious, long-term commitment to and investment in these expert roles.”
Questions remain regarding the impact that the transition to OPIC in many regions will have on the Dental Public Health Consultant workforce. As engagement on these OPIC structures progresses, we will continue to make the case that the erosion of the workforce will have deep and lasting consequences for population oral health, widening inequalities and limiting the system’s ability to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable communities.
If you require one to one support as a result of the consultation outcome, please contact our employment relations team.