The London Special Care Dentistry Managed Clinical Network (SCD MCN) was established in Summer 2022 to bring together clinicians, commissioners, and service leaders with a shared goal: improving the quality, consistency, and accessibility of dental care for people with additional needs across London.
Chaired by Dr Yvonne Rooney, the network includes five Deputy Chairs, (Dr Zahra Shehabi, Dr Brinthi Dias, Dr Debra Simons, Dr Fabia Chan and Dr Natalie Bradley), each representing one of London’s Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). Together, we work collaboratively across primary and secondary care, community dental services (CDS), and hospital settings to strengthen pathways and promote best practice in Special Care Dentistry (SCD).
Dr Yvonne Rooney, Consultant in Special Care Dentistry, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Brinthi Dias, Clinical Lead and Specialist in Special Care Dentistry, Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, Community Dental services, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Zahra Shehabi, Clinical Lead and Consultant in Special Care Dentistry, Bart’s Health NHS Trust
Dr Natalie Bradley, Consultant in Special Care Dentistry, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Fabia Chan, Clinical lead, Specialist in Special Care Dentistry, Kent Community Dental Services NHS Foundation Trust
Our Shared Goals
From the outset, the London SCD MCN has focused its work around three core aims:
- Upskilling our dental workforce – ensuring all dental professionals feel confident and supported in providing care for patients with additional needs.
- Improving access to care – including domiciliary, stretcher, and bariatric services, so that patients receive the right care in the right setting.
- Addressing GA waiting times and promoting equity of access – working to ensure that all Londoners can access timely, appropriate care wherever they live.
These priorities underpin every project and partnership we undertake.
Our Work to Date
Since its formation, the London SCD MCN has delivered a range of initiatives focused on understanding needs, supporting the workforce, and improving services. Highlights include:
- Population Needs Assessment: In collaboration with Dental Public Health colleagues, we have completed a London-wide population needs assessment for Special Care Dentistry. This important piece of work provides insight into the distribution of need, service capacity, and opportunities to improve access to care for patients requiring specialist support.
- Teaching and Training: The network has delivered teaching sessions for newly qualified Dental Hygiene and Therapy graduates, introducing them to the principles of Special Care Dentistry and the importance of inclusive oral healthcare across all settings.
- Collaborative Input to Service Development and Commissioning: The MCN is a stakeholder for the CDS Working Group, supporting discussions around service delivery models, patient pathways, and integration across London. We have also contributed to the commissioning of domiciliary GDS services, helping to ensure that contracts and service specifications reflect patient need, promote equity of access, and support effective patient pathways of dental care.
- Stakeholder Meetings: We have hosted several well-attended stakeholder meetings to open discussion and share learning across services.
- Themed “Sedation in SCD”, one session brought together primary care GDS sedation providers and secondary care teams from across London to explore safe and effective sedation pathways.
- Another focused on “Careers in SCD”, attracted positive feedback, with participants particularly valuing information on pathways to specialist recognition and professional development within SCD.
3rd July 2025: Photograph from Career Pathways in Special Care Dentistry Webinar hosted at the Summer MCN meeting (In the photo: Dr Fatimah Alsayer, Dr Fabia Chan, Dr Maryam Ismail, Dr Renato Venturelli, Dr Yvonne Rooney, Dr Carole Boyle, Dr Jeena Patel, Dr Fereshteh Taleifaz, Dr Brinthi Dias)
Looking Ahead
Our future work will continue to build on this collaborative foundation. Key priorities include:
- Our next stakeholders meeting will aim to further inform service planning, strengthen understanding of population needs, and support ongoing commissioning work.
- Continued review of our goals, the SCD services across London, identifying areas of good practice and where further support is needed.
- Launching webinars to support General Dental Services (GDS) teams in managing and referring patients requiring special care dentistry input. These sessions will cover topics such as when and how to refer, shared care approaches, and case discussions to promote confidence and collaboration across all dental settings.
Get Involved
The London SCD MCN is committed to creating a connected, informed, and supported dental community for patients requiring special care dentistry. Whether you work in GDS, CDS, hospital, or public health, the network’s work is relevant to you.
We welcome input, feedback, and engagement from colleagues across all sectors, together we can ensure every patient in London has access to the dental care they need, in the most appropriate setting.
If you’d like to learn more or get involved in upcoming webinars and network events, please contact us via Nelondonicb.lon-acutedental@nhs.net
