An Independent commission has been established to examine the commissioning of oral healthcare in England and Wales. The group, which will be chaired by Professor Chris Drinkwater, President of the NHS Alliance, is expected to develop a framework for excellence in dental commissioning, consider the implications of the NHS Next Stage Review for dental services and explore better integration of dentistry into primary and secondary care services.

The group is expected to concentrate on four major areas of work including innovative and flexible commissioning, integration of primary care services, developing oral health in SHA and PCT strategies and incorporating patient experience, including access, into commissioning. The group will be independent, but enjoy the secretarial and research support of the British Dental Association (BDA). Membership of the group will include representatives of the NHS Confederation, the Local Government Association and Picker Institute Europe, as well as senior figures from across the dental community. It is expected to report in September.

Launching the group, Professor Drinkwater said:
"The 2006 reforms of health service dentistry and the onus placed on primary care trusts to improve access to NHS care in the 2008/09 Operating Framework, alongside the challenges posed by the recommendations of the NHS Next Stage Review, mean that local commissioning is the big issue facing health service dentistry. An understanding of what constitutes excellence in commissioning, what practical options are available to commissioners and what can be delivered for patients are essential. I am delighted to have been asked to Chair this group."

The Independent Commission has been established as part of a major BDA project exploring excellence in local commissioning. The project, which is expected to publish its final report in the summer of 2010, will include an audit of commissioning currently being undertaken by primary care trusts, an analysis of commissioning models and the production of a contracting toolkit. The latest details of the project's progress are available at a dedicated area of the BDA's new website here.

1. Members of the Independent Commission include: Professor Chris Drinkwater (President, NHS Alliance), Elaine Cohen (Policy Manager PCT Network, NHS Confederation), Anna Charalambulous-Green (Lead Commissioner for Primary Care, Telford & Wrekin PCT), Cllr David Rogers (Chair of the Community Well-Being Board, Local Government Association), Paul Gardner (Senior Associate, Picker Institute Europe), Marina Harris (President, British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy), Professor Richard Watt (President, British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry), Chris Potts (President, British Dental Health Foundation, Ros Hamburger (Consultant in Dental Public Health, Birmingham PCT), Dr John Milne (NHS Next Stage Review, Primary and Community Care group dental lead), Jerry Asquith (Chair, Local Dental Committee Conference), Dr Susie Sanderson (Chair, BDA Executive Board), and representatives of the BDA's General Dental Practice Committee and Salaried Dentists Committee.

2. The British Dental Association (BDA) is the professional association for dentists in the UK. It represents 23,000 dentists working in general practice, in community and hospital settings, in academia and research, and in the armed forces, and includes dental students.

Source
John Hilsdon
Head of Public Affairs
British Dental Association
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