The North West London, South West London, South East London and Camden and Islington Local Dental Committees (LDCs) are all holding elections for their Boards this year.
This is your chance to play a leading role in shaping local engagement with NHS dentistry, represent your peers and profession, and develop new skills.
Any member of an LDC is able to nominate themselves for the Board of their LDC.
Each LDC is made up of a Board of dentists, usually one for each borough covered by the LDC, elected by members for a period of three years. The Board steers the LDC’s local engagement and each LDC Board member sits on the LDC Confederation Policy Committee, directing engagement at the Londonwide and national level.
The Board of your respective LDC determines the strategy to deliver its Vision and Mission, centred around safeguarding and growing investment in NHS dentistry at the local level and making sure that dentists and their teams are engaged in local plans. Members of the Board will often lead on developing relationships with local stakeholders including, the Integrated Care Board, Local Authorities, Integrated Neighbourhood Team leads, Local Healthwatch and other interested local partners who are affected by NHS dentistry.
As well as being responsible for the strategic direction of the LDC and leading on engagement, Board members are also responsible for the LDC as a corporate entity and this means ensuring that actions are taken in accordance with the articles of association and ensuring the financial stability of the LDC. You can read the strategic approach of each LDC here: North West London LDC, South West London LDC, South East London LDC, and Camden and Islington LDC.
Being a Director of your LDC also means that you are part of the LDC Confederation’s Policy Committee. This Committee meets throughout the year to provide guidance to the LDC Confederation on its national engagement with bodies like the General Dental Council and Department of Health. The Committee also develops and signs off position statements which help position the LDC Confederation as a thought leader in dentistry, and comments on consultation responses.
As a Director of your LDC you will be expected to attend regular Board meetings, often monthly, build relationships with local stakeholders which may involve two or three meetings a month, and meeting with the Policy Committee maybe three times a year. Additional meetings may be required depending on workstreams and interest. Meetings take place on line, though occasionally face to face meetings may be arranged. Each LDC usually provides a nominal level of remuneration to their directors and representatives, in recognition of their commitment to the profession.
If you are interested in shaping your dentistry at the local level, developing new skills and meeting new people and are able to commit time then please consider standing for the Board of your LDC.
The North West London LDC has eight vacancies:
- Brent
- Ealing
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Harrow
- Hillingdon
- Hounslow
- Kensington and Chelsea
- Westminster
The South West London LDC has six vacancies:
- Croydon
- Kingston Upon Thames
- Merton
- Richmond Upon Thames
- Sutton
- Wandsworth
The South East London LDC has six vacancies:
- Bexley
- Bromley
- Greenwich
- Lambeth
- Lewisham
- Southwark
Camden and Islington LDC has two vacancies:
- Camden
- Islington
Nominations will open in September/October. The nomination form will be circulated to all members so keep an eye out for these. The results will be announced at each LDC’s Annual General Meeting.
