James Ellam Director of Primary and Community Care, South Tyneside PCT The new General Dental Services (GDS) Contract

Primary Care Dental Services: Implementation of Local Commissioning From April 2006, PCTs will take over responsibility for Primary Care Dental Services From April 2006, PCTs will take over responsibility for Primary Care Dental Services This will ensure a common overall framework for GDS and PDS contracts, moving the dentist away from the “treadmill” This will ensure a common overall framework for GDS and PDS contracts, moving the dentist away from the “treadmill” A new, simpler system of patient charges A new, simpler system of patient charges A commitment to sustain an investment in Primary Dental Care Services A commitment to sustain an investment in Primary Dental Care Services Implement a new Oral Health Plan with a more preventive focus. “Choosing Better Oral Health”. Implement a new Oral Health Plan with a more preventive focus. “Choosing Better Oral Health”. Implement the new National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on recall intervals for patients Implement the new National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on recall intervals for patients

Benefits for Patients, Dentists and the NHS Promote a dental service that is clinically effective and encourages best practice Promote a dental service that is clinically effective and encourages best practice Improve the quality of dentists working lives Improve the quality of dentists working lives Improve access to service for NHS patients Improve access to service for NHS patients Move away from item of service Move away from item of service Encourage fewer interventions Encourage fewer interventions Free up time for a more preventive approach Free up time for a more preventive approach

Benefits for Patients, Dentists and the NHS In the short term, we need to make dentistry more attractive to dentists In the short term, we need to make dentistry more attractive to dentists Promote a more preventative approach to dental care Promote a more preventative approach to dental care Facilitate steady improvements in local access to NHS dentistry Facilitate steady improvements in local access to NHS dentistry

Benefits for Patients, Dentists and the NHS Over time the PCT hopes to: Over time the PCT hopes to: Match new service developments to local needs Match new service developments to local needs Meet the oral health needs of the local population Meet the oral health needs of the local population Build further the involvement and engagement of dentists in the local NHS Build further the involvement and engagement of dentists in the local NHS

Specific Benefits to Patients Freeing up capacity for dentists to spend more time with patients, including more time on preventative advice Freeing up capacity for dentists to spend more time with patients, including more time on preventative advice A change in recall intervals, patients agreeing with their own dentist what is best for them A change in recall intervals, patients agreeing with their own dentist what is best for them The new contract will outline cost, treatment plans and general information to patients about their dental care The new contract will outline cost, treatment plans and general information to patients about their dental care The PCT will be able to commission new services to replace any lost capacity where dentists have retired, reduced NHS care or moved away The PCT will be able to commission new services to replace any lost capacity where dentists have retired, reduced NHS care or moved away