Agenda item

8.1

The report, which provided an update on ongoing work across South Yorkshire in dentistry, was presented by Debbie Stovin (Dental Programme Lead, NHS South Yorkshire), Anthony Fitzgerald (Executive Place Director-Doncaster, NHS South Yorkshire) and Dr Sarah Robertson (Consultant in Dental Public Health).  A presentation was delivered which would be published on the Council’s website.

8.2

Dr Sarah Robertson provided an update on oral health in South Yorkshire.  She advised that a 2022 survey of the state of the teeth of five-year-old children had shown that across South Yorkshire there had been reductions in tooth decay since the previous survey, and this reflected the ongoing oral health improvement programme across South Yorkshire. However the figures for South Yorkshire were still higher than both Yorkshire and the Humber as a whole, and England. 

8.3

Dr Robertson explained that there were pockets of South Yorkshire where the figures were worse than overall, namely in areas of deprivation and in communities of non-white ethnic backgrounds, amongst looked after children, those with poor health, people with learning difficulties, gypsy Roma and traveller communities, asylum seekers and refugees.

8.4

Dr Robertson explained that there were 3 main interventions which could stop tooth decay: reduction of sugary foods and drinks, increasing exposure to fluoride, and visiting the dentist (including for fluoride varnishing). Water fluoridation (not currently present in South Yorkshire) was supported as it would reduce tooth decay and extractions and reduce dental inequalities, whilst being cost effective and having a low carbon footprint.  A public consultation on extending water fluoridation in the North East had recently commenced, the results of which would be influential in whether other regions followed suit.  Dr Robertson encouraged interested parties to respond to this.

8.5

Councillor Jeff Ennis left the meeting at 17.33.  The Chair confirmed that this meant that the Committee was no longer quorate however the discussion could continue, and any proposed decisions would be referred to a subsequent meeting for approval.

Notes of the Informal Proceedings of the Meeting

8.6

Members asked what they could do to encourage the introduction of water fluoridation in South Yorkshire and were advised that they should respond to the public consultation for the North East.  They could also lobby the Secretary of State.

8.7

A discussion took place regarding the national plan for dental recovery and whether it was adequate.  Members expressed concern regarding the amount of people who could not access dental care and noted that any action which was targeted at increasing access for a particular group, would inevitably increase risk amongst other groups. Lack of access to dentists, reducing screening for mouth and throat cancer was also a concern.

8.8

Anthony Fitzgerald stated that it was recognised by the ICB that access to dental care was not good enough, and that improvement would take a significant amount of time, however they were being transparent about this.  It was necessary to create optimism about solutions in order to assist with recruitment and make NHS work attractive for dentists. 

8.9

Debbie Stovin advised that the existing digital platform did not enable Dental Practices to be able to state the length of their waiting list, but she had asked to be part of a working group which was due to look at this.  She added that people who did not have an NHS dentist but who experienced dental issues were prioritised by degree of pain, and one session could be provided to address the issue causing the pain.

8.10

Members asked for clarification on the new “patient premium”, particularly regarding what constituted a new patient, and how it would be ensured that the system did not encourage queue jumping.  Debbie Stovin advised that this was an extra payment which would be provided to dentists when they saw a patient who had not physically seen a dentist in the last 2 years, and it would include patients on the dentist’s own waiting list.  The scheme would be audited and monitored nationally.

8.11

Members asked what action had been taken to encourage recruitment of dentists from overseas.  Debbie Stovin advised that this was currently in development.  It was a complex matter, as overseas dentists required additional training and certification to be able to practice in the UK.

8.12

Members requested clarification of what the reasons were for the underspend in the ICB dental budget.  Debbie Stovin confirmed that it related to the claw back from practices which had not delivered 100% of their contract, i.e. it was due to underperformance.  The aim was to keep this money within dental services rather than it being re-allocated within the ICB.

8.13

Members thanked panellists for attending and advised that it was likely that they would be asked to attend the Committee in the next municipal year to provide a further update.