The London Primary Care Anchor Network (PCAN) brings together a range of stakeholders, including the Local Dental Committees, to use their collective influence, workforce, purchasing power and community relationships to improve both health outcomes and the wider determinants of health.
The NHS Anchor programme develops schemes and shares information about how to use the NHS’s presence in a local area to support:
- Local employment and skills development;
- Education and training opportunities;
- Economic inclusion and community wealth building;
- Reduction of health inequalities;
- Environmental sustainability and greener healthcare;
- Stronger partnerships with voluntary, community and local authority sectors.
The LDCs in London work with the London PCAN through their membership of the LDC Confederation to ensure consistency of messaging and resources on key topics, including:
- The London Living Wage;
- Apprenticeships;
- Work Experience;
- Environmental Sustainability.
The PCAN represents another avenue for LDCs to work with influential stakeholders to embed NHS dental services into the wider NHS and social care structure. The emphasis on health inequality reduction directly supports the LDCs’ other engagement with local integrated neighbourhood health teams to ensure that a holistic model of care is being developed.
