- As part of ongoing engagement with the London Assembly, Nikita Vora, North West London LDC Director for Brent, met with Chair of the GLA Health Committee Krupesh Hirani AM, Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow, to provide more information about NHS dentistry than was covered at the initial oral evidence.
- Nikita Vora met with the Integrated Neighbourhood Team lead in Brent on 22 October. This was an exciting introductory meeting which explored how dentistry can be integrated with local services. There will be local stakeholder engagement with the public to get a better understanding of local needs and issues, and how they want to see these resolved. The LDC will be involved in this engagement which will help inform the future direction of engagement at the Integrated Care Board Level.
- Noor Sacoor, North West London LDC Director for Ealing, met the Integrated Neighbourhood Team lead for Ealing on 25 October. There was a presentation on the role and structure of the INTs in Ealing and how they are looking to form eight to map over the populations of the borough in an equitable way. There was a clear desire to bring dentistry into this way of integrated working but a recognition of the difficulties that the national contract presented. Quarterly meetings have been agreed to develop ways of working that can be implemented in the short, medium and long term with the support of the INT and ICB.
- Rita Bagga, North West London LDC Director for Harrow met with the Integrated Neighbourhood Team lead in Harrow on 30 October. The meeting was a good introduction to the way of working in the borough. The LDC has been invited to attend the regular pan-Harrow INT meetings and will be seeking volunteers from the LDC to attend the three INTs in the borough. Any member who is interested should contact the LDC on contact@ldc.org.uk. This will be a great opportunity to drive engagement and integration at the local level.
- Jeff Sherer, North West London LDC Director for Hillingdon, was contacted by the Hillingdon Health and Care Partners to discuss how dentistry can be integrated with other services in the area. The Hillingdon Health and Care Partners is a partnership between the hospital, community nursing services, general practices, the local authority and voluntary and community services. The discussion was wide ranging with a great deal of enthusiasm to use dental practices for general health improvement as well as targeting dental care for specific groups to help reduce health inequalities. Quarterly meetings have been agreed and the LDC will be seeking a representative to work with the INT lead in South Hillingdon.
LDC Confederation
The LDC Confederation met with the lead for NHS apprenticeships to discuss how these can be better utilised and promoted in primary care dentistry. A blog will be forthcoming.
The Policy Committee met on Tuesday 22 October and discussed continued group engagement at the London and national level. Including our draft report following our survey of the public in collaboration with local Healthwatch.
The LDC Confederation met with outgoing Chair of the British Society of Dental Hygienists and Therapists Miranda Steeples and incoming Chair Rhiannon Jones. The two organisations have enjoyed close working relationships and agreed that this will continue with the LDC Confederation pressing for equal rights for all members of the dental team.