- Anthony Bendkowski, South East London LDC Director for Greenwich, met with Mariam Lolavar, Cabinet Member Health, Adult Social Care and Borough of Sanctuary, and Joy Beishon, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Greenwich, to discuss NHS dentistry in the borough. The meeting was wide ranging, covering general access, access in care homes and for children with special educational needs. The LDC anticipates greater representation on local working groups to ensure that dentistry is not neglected when considering holistic approaches to reducing health inequalities and improvements to health outcomes.
- George Brown. South East London LDC Director for Lambeth, met with the Lambeth Primary Care Leads to discuss dental engagement in the borough. It was agreed that a greater focus on dentistry was required and this would be taken forward in the next few months.
- Harmail Bassi, South East London LDC Director for Bexley, met with the Director of Public Health for the borough. In a wide ranging discussion they discussed some new oral health promotion programmes being launched and the need to link dental practices with these to ensure coordinated messages. The LDC was invited to join the Borough’s Obesity Forum to ensure that the oral health aspect of diet is considered. We hop to there will be future engagement with the three Integrated Neighbourhood Teams in the borough and the LDC will be seeking members to lead on this engagement to advocate for improved pathways.
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.
