The national dental contract does not allow sufficient flexibility to meet local oral health needs, according to a survey conducted by the BDA which says that challenges for NHS dental commissioning must be addressed.
The survey of both commissioning leads and local dental committee secretaries found that 60% of commissioners thought the national contract did not allow sufficient flexibility to meet local oral health needs, with 77% of LDC secretaries agreeing. Less than a third of dental leads (29%) agreed they received contracting assistance or advice from their strategic health authority and 27% said they did not have the resources to develop changes to the national contract.
How long primary care trust and local health board commissioning staff had been in post was also investigated. More than a quarter (26%) of the primary care organisation dental leads questioned had been in their role for less than a full year, with an average tenure of 3.4 years.
However, despite concerns about the constraints placed on commissioners by the national contract, the survey found very positive attitudes towards liaison between practitioners and commissioners. Eighty-seven percent of dental leads and 85% of LDC secretaries felt the regular contact they had with one another was helpful. Consensus about priorities for dentistry was also obvious, with access for new patients the most commonly cited for both groups.
Alongside the survey is a practical guide to dental commissioning, produced by an independent working group led by Professor Chris Drinkwater of the NHS Alliance, to help primary care organisations to meet those challenges.
Building on the survey's findings, the Local commissioning working group report maps the commissioning cycle from start to finish, and provides practical guidance, tips and ideas for commissioning general dental services. It also sets each stage of the commissioning cycle in the context of the 'World Class Commissioning' framework, explaining how competencies can be achieved and exceeded. The report is available online at
Launching the report, Professor Drinkwater said 'The research underpinning this report has presented some excellent examples of innovation on the part of commissioning teams around the country, but it has also demonstrated room for improvement in others.
