Meeting 31st January 2024
THE HUNTINGDON MARRIOTT HOTEL
DIRECTOR’S BOARDROOM
WEDNESDAY 31ST JANUARY 2024
7.30 START
MINUTES
1. Attendees:
Patrik Zachrisson LDC Chairman & Treasurer
Mariana De Villiers LDC Administrator
Amiras Chokshi LDC Secretary
Julia Hallam-Seagrave Head of Dental Service / Specialist in Special Care Dentistry
Elinor Japp
Deepak Kumar
Peter Mullins
Jessica Wyatt
Guests:
Abigail Bridson
Kaushal Patel
Prashant Patel
2. Apologies:
Bharpur Sanghera
Claire Jackman
Marlise De Vos
Francis Scriven
3. Chairman’s/Treasurer’s Report: Patrik Zachrisson:
Patrik Zachrisson welcomed all present to the start of the new year.
Treasurer’s report:
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough LDC continues to be financially stable and secure.
The LDC hosted a CPD EVENT by Pof. Tim Newton: “THE MENTAL HEALTH and WELL BEING of the DENTAL TEAM” on the 29th of November 2023.
The LDC has agreed to extend funding towards Hepatits B vaccinations, Needlestick injuries and Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks, following the incurred costs of such procedures, to support the Dental Team. Funding will be available for the year 1st Jan 2024 to 31st December 2024 to all NHS dental practices in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who are providing NHS dental services.
The LDC to donate to The British Dental Guild and support BDA talks.
As difficulty in recruiting staff remains a concern and the cost of living being at a record high, the LDC has agreed to investigate the possibility of contributing towards the cost of the Dental Nurse’s Course in order for nurses to become fully qualified. Nurses currently on the dental nurse’s course as well as those aspiring to become a dental nurse can apply. As funds are limited, only a limited number of applications will be successful on a first come first basis.
Chairman’s Report:
Over the festive period no changes or significant developments have been reported.
Measles:
It has been reported that cases of measles are rising. In 2016 the UK was declared measles-free, however, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency, there were 1,603 suspected cases in England and Wales in 2023, compared with 735 in 2022, 360 in 2021, and 695 in 2020.
In recent months outbreaks have occurred in England mostly around London and the West Midlands. Data for 2022-23 shows only 84.5% of children in England received the second MMR vaccine dose by five years of age, whilst in London and Birmingham a quarter of five-year-olds have not had two doses of MMR. This can be contributed to a number of reasons, including some parents not realising the NHS was still offering MMR vaccinations during the pandemic, having problems accessing appointments, not realising the seriousness of this disease or being influenced by anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.
Among the most influential pieces of misinformation was the 1998 claim by Andrew Wakefield that the MMR jab could be linked to autism – a theory that has since been comprehensively debunked.
The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) has suggested to open up conversations about vaccinations as reports of measles cases increase across the UK. As Dentists will be asking about patients’ vaccination status as part of the routine medical history, the BSPD believes that this is the time to ask specifically about MMR immunisation and to remind parents and carers to ensure their children’s immunisation records are up to date.
Further guidance on this is expected.
4. Secretary’s Report: Amiras Chokshi:
The next meeting of the General Dental Practice Committee (GDPC) will on Friday 2nd of February 2024.
Dentistry has been on the forefront of recent media coverage and political attention as the lack of NHS Dental Services have been highlighted. Patients are unable to find an NHS dentist and get the care they need with more dentists leaving the NHS. A recent media campaign highlighted that 90% of dental practices that were contacted do not take on any NHS patients.
An NHS Dental Recovery Plan is expected shortly. The government recognises that more needs to be done to improve accessibility to NHS dentistry. The aim is to increase training places and to make changes to overseas registration to improve capacity.
The LDC has scheduled a meeting with Jess Bandon of the Integrated Care Board (ICB) on the 15th of February 2024. Amiras to attend.
5. Julia Hallam- Seagrave:
The Dental Access Centre continues to see a huge increase in the number of patients wanting dental treatment. They are working closely with the ICB to develop a strategy for patients to be seen and are supportive of setting up Child Friendly Dental Practices.
The Dental Access Centre is working closely with the Homeless Hub - the Light Project in Peterborough, as well as large asylum community in Wisbech.
6. Other:
CPD Event analysis by Pof. Tim Newton: “THE MENTAL HEALTH and WELL BEING of the DENTAL TEAM” on the 29th of November 2023 has shown that the event was well received and that further LDC events would be welcomed.
The LDC website to be updated.
The Annual LDC Conference will be on the 6th and 7th of June in Brighton. Members were asked to put their names forward to attend.
All members attending the meeting were re-elected. The LDC supported the motion to elect Abigail Bridson, Kaushal Patel and Prashant Patel as members of the LDC.
7. Next LDC Meeting
WEDNESDAY, 15th May 2024
