On 14 October 2024, representatives from across the London healthcare ecosystem gathered for the London Neighbourhoods Community of Practice. Bringing together NHS London regional leaders, Integrated Care Board (ICB) colleagues, primary care professionals, local authority representatives, social care, voluntary partners, and neighbourhood health teams, the session explored London’s transition toward Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs).
As healthcare delivery shifts from traditional multidisciplinary working to population-based, preventative care models, ensuring NHS dentistry has a strong seat at the table is essential for our vision of joined-up primary healthcare. This is supported by The Target Operating Model for the neighbourhood health service in London.
Why Neighbourhood Integration Matters for NHS Dentistry
The move toward Integrated Neighbourhood Teams aims to segment population health needs into three clear streams: standard prevention and routine support (~75%), ongoing coordinated care (~20%), and proactive multidisciplinary care for highly complex needs (~5%).
Decisions made today regarding local workforce planning, funding, digital interoperability, and preventive care pathways will directly dictate how dental teams interact with the broader NHS in the coming years. By advocating for dental integration early, the LDCs ensures that oral health is embedded as a core pillar of primary care rather than an isolated afterthought.
Key Insights & Real-World Case Studies
Several London boroughs presented innovative approaches to neighborhood-level care:
- Southwark & Lambeth (CHESS Model): Delivering integrated paediatric care through community Family Hubs, linking social care, education, and children’s mental health.
- Barking & Dagenham (Design, Test & Learn): Engaging residents and the voluntary sector directly in localized service design.
- Haringey (Frailty & Complex Care): Achieving a 40% reduction in emergency department attendances through proactive multi-agency case-finding.
These case studies demonstrate clear touchpoints for oral health integration. Dental professionals regularly interact with patients across all life stages and are uniquely positioned to contribute to early disease detection, diabetes-periodontal care links, and family hub health initiatives.
Navigating the Challenges Ahead
While the vision is promising, several systemic challenges were highlighted across regional governance:
- Workforce capacity: Establishing shared staffing models across diverse organizations.
- Digital interoperability: Enabling seamless data sharing and joint record keeping.
- Clinical governance & accountability: Clarifying cross-organisational decision-making.
- Balancing urgent vs. preventative care: Managing immediate clinical demands alongside long-term population health goals.
Looking Forward: Championing Dental Integration
The overarching trajectory of London’s healthcare strategy is encouraging. However, a real risk remains that neighbourhood health infrastructure could develop primarily around general practice, community nursing, and social care, leaving NHS dental services as a secondary consideration.
The LDCs will continue actively engaging with regional leaders, participating in the London resource hub and collaborative networks, and advocating for dentistry’s explicit inclusion in local planning, prevention programmes, and integrated pathways from the outset.
