Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meetings are correctly recorded subject to the amendment of the typographical errors contained within the Minutes referred to by the Overview, Scrutiny and Localism Manager and the signed set of Minutes by the Chairman reflect these changes as a correct record.

Ms Maureen Hall (Dental Contracts Manager, NHS West Kent), Dr Tim Hogan (Chairman, Kent Local Dental Committee), Mr Stephen Ingram (Director of Primary Care, NHS West Kent), Mr David Meikle (Acting Chief Executive, NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent), Mr Bill Millar (Head of Primary, Community and Elective Care, NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent), Dr Allan Pau (Dental Public Health Registrar), Ms Paula Smith (Lead Commissioner for Max Fax, Orthodontics & Dental, NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent), were present for this item.

(1)       One of the recurring themes in discussions on the work programme for the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee was the issue of Dentistry.

(2)       The focus of the Committee’s attention was to ask the following:-

Public Question

How can I access NHS dentistry and be certain I will receive quality treatment?

Scrutiny Questions

a)                 Are the Primary Care Trusts commissioning sufficient dental provision to meet the needs of the resident populations?

b)                 Is the care being provided of an appropriate quality?

c)                  What can be done to improve dental service provision in Kent?

(3)               The Committee had before them a briefing paper prepared by the Research Officer to the Committee, supplementary briefing material provided by the Primary Care Trusts in West Kent and Eastern & Coastal Kent and a report from the Local Involvement Network (LINk).

(4)               The Chairman invited Dr Pau to inform the Committee of the services that are provided by dentists. 

(5)               Dr Pau responded that the services that dentistry now provides including prevention of gum and tooth disease.  He spoke primarily about the prevention services.

(6)               The Committee noted the allocation of monies to the Primary Care Trusts for provision of dentistry and in particular the current underspend that was occurring in NHS West Kent which was due to slippage on the new procurement of dentists.

(7)               Of particular concern to a number of Members of the Committee was dentistry provision for children, i.e. NHS dentists that were not taking on children.

(8)               The LINk work had identified a range of issues including the disappearance of the routine six monthly checkups, the high price of dental care deterring people from going to the dentist, out of hours care, the inability to obtain lists of NHS dentists and poor dental care of those with other medical needs, such as those who are pregnant and those with cardiac problems.

(9)               In response Mr Meikle said that it was a mixed economy, it was incumbent upon the Primary Care Trust to understand the difference between general medical services with a registration based service and dentistry which has moved towards a needs assessment system.  It was important to identify needs and to identify the dentist activity.

(10)          Dr Pau informed the Committee that they were not allowed not to take on children.

(11)          The Committee noted the emergency services which were provided across the authority and across the county with the out of hours services provided by Dentaline in Medway.  For out of hours services in Eastern & Coastal Kent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

(1)       The Overview, Scrutiny and Localism Manager submitted a report setting out the revised work programme for the meetings in May, June and July.  He also sought the Committee’s suggestions for inclusion in the work programme for the meetings in September, October and November.

(2)       Attached to the report were some briefing notes relating to the items to be considered over the next three months’ meetings and he sought Members’ views on further questions that they would like to see added to those already covered so that these could be sent to those whom the Committee wished to invite to attend the meeting to answer their questions in advance.  The ideal was to have a work programme for a year or even more set out in advance.

(3)       RESOLVED that the Committee:-

a)                 endorse the proposed work programme for the forthcoming meetings; and

b)                 were invited to submit any suggestions and questions they would like asked as part of the discussion on the scheduled topics and items for inclusion in future meetings of the agenda to the Overview, Scrutiny and Localism Manager.

(1)               Included in the papers for the Committee to note was the letter setting out the reasons for the referral of the Committee following the unanimous decision on 19 February 2010 to refer the issue of Women and Children’s Services at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust to the Secretary of State for Health.

(2)               The Committee also noted the response from the Department of Health and the further response letter on behalf of the Committee dated 18 March 2010.  Since the papers were published a further letter had been received by the Chairman dated 24 March 2010 from the Secretary of State indicating that he had asked the Independent Reconfiguration Panel to undertake an initial review on the Committee’s referral.  Should that review by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel advise that a full review is necessary then the Committee would have the chance to present their case to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel in full.

(3)               The Secretary of State had indicated that he had asked the Independent Reconfiguration Panel to report to him by not later than 7 May 2010.

(4)               RESOLVED that the report be noted.